Liam Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)

The Government has ensured that agriculture and the agri-food business remain the centre of attention, notwithstanding the positive growth in the economy and the temptation to focus elsewhere. In view of the finalisation of the mid-term review of the Common Agricultural Policy, the Department, in a deliberate exercise, held a series of meetings throughout the country seeking the views of farmers. I was present at many of them and they were well attended. The overwhelming view, one adopted by at least 95% of farmers, was that we should pursue complete decoupling. The support of farmers made it easier to make the decision on decoupling.

The reason farmers approved the Department's approach was that they wanted the red tape and bureaucracy we have all had to endure over the years removed. I have special responsibility for customer services in the Department and we have been trying to simplify schemes for the benefit of farmers. Replacing the current schemes, including suckler cow, special beef, slaughter premium and many others, by a single farmer scheme and one application, will result in a series of benefits. For example, the number of applications to the Department using Area A type forms will fall to 136,000 from the current level of 479,000. In addition, only 5% of applicants will be subject to on farm checks to establish their eligibility, with only 1% subject to cross-compliance checks and 5% checked in cases of identification and registration of animals. These figures clearly bear out the importance of our approach.