The Minister announced that he had two objectives, one of which related to the Common Agricultural Policy. The selling point and main advantage of the CAP is that there has always been a common agricultural policy for all EU member states. The European Commission's proposals have ended this policy and opened the door to the emergence of trade distortions within and between member states. The nationalisation of the CAP will lead to its dismantling. If this happens, it will be seriously disadvantageous to Ireland relative to our trading partners in the European Union. This is a valid concern the Minister has failed to address.