John Carty (Fianna Fail)

The benefits of our EU membership are countless but perhaps farmers make up the group that enjoys most support. From 1973 to 2006, Ireland received a total of over €41 billion from the EU. This is worth noting in light of the present mistruths being circulated regarding the veto. In terms of direct payments and market supports, 38% or €0.7 million came from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund. These are in addition to the accompanying measures including the Rural Environmental Protection scheme, REPS, and schemes for early retirement, fish withdrawal and forestry. Receipts from the EAGG Fund amounted to €2.7 billion in the same period to fund Leader programmes, schemes for farm waste management, installation aid and dairy hygiene as well as forestry NDP schemes on native woodlands. On the fishery side, funding was provided for decommissioning of fishing vessels and investment in agricultural projects.

In the period from 2007-13, Ireland can expect to receive approximately €12 billion from the Common Agricultural Policy, with €2.3 billion coming from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development to fund REPS, ERS, farm investment programmes, installation aid schemes and Leader programmes. Almost €10 billion will come from the European Agriculture Guidance and Guarantee Fund and this will be used to fund the single payment scheme and market support measures.

Treaty opponents allege that the Lisbon reform treaty will result in Ireland losing its veto in certain future WTO negotiations. This is not the case. Regarding the WTO negotiations, the treaty will leave the situation essentially unchanged. This means that efforts to link the WTO and the treaty referendum are not grounded in the facts. The Minister mentioned in his speech that at this week's Council of Agriculture meeting he informed the Commission in no uncertain terms of Ireland's fundamental concerns regarding the direction of these negotiations. He also met with his French counterpart, M. Michel Barnier, and reported that Ireland and France are at one on this issue and will not accept a WTO agreement which would sacrifice EU agriculture for the sake of a deal. That is worth noting and I congratulate the Minister on it.

The former Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Deputy Mary Coughlan, had what she described as a "robust" meeting with Commissioner Peter Mandelson some weeks ago. I urge the new Minister to have another meeting with Mr. Mandelson and to re-emphasise his position on this matter and let the Commissioner know that he will not get away with what he is proposing.

At a recent meeting of EU Ministers for Agriculture it was noteworthy that 20 EU governments opposed Mr. Mandelson's strategy, including those of France and Germany. It is very important for Ireland that such large countries will not take into consideration what the Commissioner proposes for Irish agriculture. I agree with Senator Bradford that much has changed since the Doha talks began, as world food shortages have become an issue. I noted yesterday when the CAP was discussed that setaside was to be examined. That is important. It was criminal to have the finest land in Ireland set aside in the past number of years.