Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Like previous speakers, I welcome the news about the CAP deal entered into by the Minister, Deputy Simon Coveney, whom I congratulate, although the CAP budget is to be reduced. It is the first time that the budget has been reduced. Having said that, I am concerned about the divergent statements on what the new CAP proposals will mean from the president of the IFA, Mr. John Bryan, and the Minister. If my colleague, Senator Michael Comiskey, is correct, I welcome the redistribution of CAP funding to prevent the continuation of the status quo, whereby 2,000 farmers receive the same amount of money as 52,000 others on the lowest payments.

There are deep concerns about how the flexibility issue will be dealt with within this country. I, therefore, call on the Minister to come to the House for a debate on what has been agreed to date. There are mixed messages coming from the farming organisations and, contrary to what my learned colleague, Senator Michael Comiskey, said, Macra na Feirme representatives stated earlier that they were concerned about the way they might benefit from the new deal. The devil is in the detail, but it is an important day for Ireland. The future of Irish farming is at stake and an urgent debate is warranted sooner rather than later.