John Carty (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister and thank him for coming back to us within six months on this important issue, the Common Agricultural Policy post-2013. It bodes well that he knows how important it is to keep us informed of what is happening and what he expects to happen in Europe.

The CAP post-2013 is at an early stage, with no final decision being made until at least 2012. It is important our views are made known to colleagues across Europe. I note the Minister is holding meetings with his European counterparts and had Commissioner Ciolos here two weeks ago to meet with all strands of Irish agriculture. He met the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Food, the farming organisations and other stakeholders in the industry. It was important that he was taken to a working Irish farm to see first hand how it operates because farming is totally different in his country. Our family run farms are of great importance and the production of beef, sheep meat and dairy produce is mostly grass-based and as near to organic as can be found. During the years, under the various schemes, and especially through REPS, the farming community has made the environment part of its green image. That is why it is important to show the Commissioner our way of farming. I hope the Minister will bring his ministerial colleagues on farm visits, particularly to marginal areas where farming is more difficult, such as in the north and west of my county, Mayo, and the west of his own county, Cavan, where the land is mountainous. It is important they see how people farm land of that type.

Consumers in Europe must make up their minds between cheap food and food security. If they want cheap food, they must accept imports of dubious origin and production compared to Irish products. We cannot produce at the prevailing costs because we produce food at the highest level that is disease free and of a quality that is second to none. To do this, the various payments from the CAP must be maintained and farmers paid to produce this. The taxpayer of Europe must maintain there payments and that is why the envelope must be kept going for producers. If not, the producers must give up and if that happens there will be a food shortage, something that would be detrimental to Europe. There would be a panic and money would be given to farmers to produce. Now is the time to batten down the hatches and ensure that food continues to be produced in the way it is done at present.

It is vital that more funds are made available from EU funds and co-financing from member states is kept to a minimum. Commissioner Ciolos made much of the fact that there are now 27 members where previously there were 15 and that there must be a massive increase in funds. We cannot divide the present funds among 27 member states as there would be a massive shortfall for the developed countries, those that built up their agriculture regime during the years. The incoming countries are entitled to funding but not to the detriment of the competitiveness of agriculture across Europe. It has taken a long time to arrive at this point and we must keep it going. In years to come, with population increases, we will need to produce far more. In the Minister's recent paper on food until 2020, he outlined much of what we will need. It is a great document and it should be read by all stakeholders in agriculture in the country.

There is unity of purpose in this House and between MEPs in maintaining the national envelope. I attended a meeting of the North-South forum last week and Jim Nicholson MEP spoke. He was upbeat about agriculture but he saw many shortcomings. I hope our 15 MEPs will come together to work for the common good of agriculture in the European Parliament.

Senator Bradford made a fine contribution today and offered full support, which is welcome. The green jersey is very important here, as the Minister appreciates when negotiating in Europe.

I thank the Minister for coming and outlining to us what he envisages will happen in the coming months. We will wait with baited breath. There was a leak today in the media of a section of the report of the Commission that is to be published on 17 November. I do not know the basis for that leak, we must wait and see. The Minister and his officials will try their best to ensure Irish agriculture remains at the forefront.