Pat O'Neill (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

No, it was not from celebrating. I was not booing either.

The Minister has achieved a great deal since he became Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in 2011. He is widely recognised as a dominant voice in Europe on CAP reform, especially in respect of proposals for an alternative to the Commissioner?s preferred new payment method of a flat-rate payment, negotiating flexibility on greening and support for younger farmers. He has done that through a mastery of policy and the hard graft of politics, holding endless rounds of bilateral meetings with fellow European agriculture Ministers. I note that against the odds he secured funding last week for a new ¤20 million AEOS. Severe pressure was put on him by the troika. He has achieved a great deal in difficult times.

It is worthwhile to reflect on the previous Government?s efforts on agriculture when Fianna Fáil held the agriculture Ministry. Among the measures taken by Fianna Fáil in 2009, many of which the party is seeking to be restored in today's amendment, were the suspension of the early retirement scheme in the budget; the suspension of the young farmer installation aid scheme; the halving of the suckler cow welfare scheme; a ¤34 million, 14%, cut in disadvantaged area payments; an 8% cut in forestry premiums; a 2% income levy for growers of forestry; the cessation of pruning and shaping grants; the end of supports for the fallen animal collection scheme; the closure of REPS 4 to 30,000 REPS 3 farmers and a cut in REPS 4 payments by 17% for 29,000 farmers; the introduction of carbon taxes; and the cutting of grants to the national co-operative farm relief services. The Fianna Fáil amendment contains many specifics.

Many of these proposals are what we would like to achieve but if the amendment is agreed today it would tie the Minister's hands too much in regard to the CAP negotiations.

In the motion I welcome that the Seanad is united in its main principles on the CAP. I fully endorse the ambitions for a positive outcome to the MMF negotiations which will deliver a properly funded CAP and maintain Ireland's allocation of direct payments for rural development funding. I agree that a greener CAP should not involve too much red tape - or green tape, if one prefers - and that we need to reinforce the supports to young farmers. I accept we need a sensible and practical definition of an active farmer. In regard to supporting the CAP in principle, although the capping proposals currently on the table would not have any impact on Irish farmers, they would cause serious problems for other member states.

There is no doubt the Minister has had to make cuts but he has done this difficult task with great diligence. He has consulted with stakeholders and those on the ground, has tackled those who exploit farming grants with token sheep or horses, and has taken great care to reward hard-working productive farmers and those farming in difficult conditions - in other words, active farmers. The steps the Minister is now taking will yield enormous positive results for Irish farmers, not only in the immediate term but in years to come. When Ireland assumes the EU Presidency next January his role will be critical, not only for Irish farmers but for those throughout the European Union. He will be very influential in a powerful position and I have no doubt that farmers across Europe will feel confident the future of European agriculture will be in safe hands when the Minister plays a leading role in 2013.

I reiterate my formal seconding of the motion.