Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We have supported a two-state solution in respect of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for many years. That means support for Palestine. It was always part of the principle that there would be a comprehensive response to this from a European perspective. This has been very difficult to achieve, however, despite the fact that interventions from both Europe and the United States over many years were in some cases on the brink of achieving agreement, and it never actually worked out in the way people would have expected. I note Sweden's comment and I note the comment from France in the last period. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade is reflecting on the best way to go forward. There is a question of whether it is feasible to have a comprehensive response to Europe's principle of a two-state solution, as defined for many years, and whether that is likely to become a reality, as people have different judgments on this. The fact that Ireland supports and has supported for many years a two-state solution for Palestine and Israel answers the Deputy's question inherently.

The Deputy mentioned the European commissionership. I wrote to the President elect on 29 July in respect of the nominated Commissioner designate from Ireland and, in that letter, I stated that I hoped he would assign Mr. Hogan to a position in line with the strength of his skills and of Ireland's political priorities. The agri-sector, as Deputy Adams knows, will grow significantly over the next period, and the potential is very significant, particularly with quotas going in 2015. It is important also to recognise that while a number of Vice-Presidents are appointed at Commissioner level, the agri-sector and the agricultural portfolio is one that stands alone. It is of such importance to our country that there is probably only one other country in the world that has the same profile as Ireland, and that is New Zealand.

It is important to have a strong voice from a European perspective, and this is not focused unilaterally on Ireland. The Commissioner will have to deal with the transatlantic trade and investment partnership, TTIP, negotiations that are going on between Europe and the United States. Obviously, there is a case to be made for opening the US market to Irish beef, but also the Mercosur negotiations and the mid-term review of the Common Agricultural Policy will also be important. Deputy Adams will be well aware that, in the past, a different formula was used by some of the Commissioners for dealing with the agri-sector, which was assessed on a per-hectare basis, but this would have done away with the question of the productivity capacity of Irish farms and how sophisticated we have become.

The Deputy also made the point that he was highly critical of the former Minister, Mr. Hogan, with respect to the work he did here. It is as contradictory as ever that Sinn Féin representatives here in the Republic voted against the Commissioner's appointment, yet its Minister in Northern Ireland wrote to him congratulating him. Which is it? I notice the representatives of Sinn Féin in the Twenty-six Counties changed tack afterwards and said they would of course support the Commissioner in what he has to do. If Deputy Adams doubts the Commissioner's credentials, by all accounts, although I do not speak for the European Parliament, at the session dealing with questions to Commissioner designate Hogan, he was outstanding in his delivery, in his knowledge of the subject and in his response to the questions. There seems to have been a bit of a mix-up in the Sinn Féin approach here, or maybe they wanted to cover all bases - the Northern Ireland Minister writes to congratulate the Commissioner, while the members elected from the Twenty-six Counties voted against his appointment. Deputy Adams should remind the farmers of the country and the agri-sector that his members did not support the Commissioner's appointment. They might be interested in that when they reflect on it.

This is very important for rural Ireland and, as the Deputy points out, it is a critical area. Clearly, there is a lack of infrastructure in regard to broadband, communications, water in many cases, and roads. However, I point out to Deputy Adams that through the rural development programme we will invest €2.2 billion from now to 2020, which is a very significant amount, and, in addition to that, an extra €100 million will be thrown in for the BMW region. I assume Commissioner Hogan, in looking at the pan-European aspect of his rural development programmes, will reflect on that and see that it becomes effective and operational.

It is important the Commission approve that programme and that the applications for drawing assistance from it are made available as soon as possible.

As I hope to speak to the Commissioner about this in the near future, I do not accept the Deputy's argument. During our Presidency there was a very significant series of decisions on the agriculture sector and the CAP. To have a Commissioner for agriculture from this country heading the EU agriculture process is significant considering that agriculture accounts for 40% of a €960 billion budget.

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