Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is important to set out the things we can say with absolute certainty. There is no change in entitlement to payments for 2020. The Commission has published draft proposals in respect of 2021. My personal view is that the transitional arrangements are highly likely to be necessary for a second year in light of the challenges that are being faced around the share of the multi-annual financial framework, under which the EU is funded, that relates to CAP. This significant challenge is separate from the other CAP challenges. I appreciate the point the Deputy has made about Pillar 2 payments. We pay a substantial number of farmers under the various Pillar 2 schemes, including the beef data and genomics programme. We are anxious to ensure those schemes are rolled over. The challenge in this regard relates to the funding requirement. We will be trying to make progress with our campaign, which is seeking to ensure they roll over with the current funding arrangements. I am conscious of those who have seen their schemes expire and to whom other schemes are not open. However, they had opportunities. They were invited to transition over to GLAS. In the context of the transitional arrangements, we would like to be in a position to open up new schemes. The details of these arrangements are the subject of ongoing negotiation.

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