Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

What has been delivered in the CAP, which has been welcomed by all farming organisations, has been a €12.5 billion package for Irish agriculture between now and 2020. Instead of a 30% reduction in direct payments, it is 3%. In Pillar 2 we are ensuring that the average spend in rural development programmes over the next seven years is about €565 million, which is the same as the average spend for the past seven years, which the Deputies opposite seem to have conveniently forgotten about. In fact, in those negotiations in the last minute, the Taoiseach secured an additional €100 million or so in Pillar 2 payments.

This evening's debate contains the usual attempts to distort what has been really good for Ireland in the new CAP, which was a fundamental change from where the Commission was going and it was just as well for Irish agriculture. However, what is most concerning for me is that the three speeches I have heard this evening made no mention of productivity, generational change, land mobility, new markets, competitiveness or modernisation of Irish agriculture. There was none of that. It is all just, "We need more money", which paints agriculture in Ireland as if it does not have the capacity to make money form the markets as it is doing now.

We are having difficulties in the beef sector; this has been a very difficult year. I accept that and we have debated it on numerous occasions.

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