Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I wish to discuss the Common Agricultural Policy, CAP. Commissioner Phil Hogan has today announced the initiation of a public consultation process on the reform of the CAP. He has indicated that he wants to have a full and meaningful public consultation process and outlined his plans and vision for same. It is important that we note that he has invited farmers, professional bodies in the agriculture sector, as well as environmental organisations to give their views in the next three months. Details of the consultation process can be found on the Commission's website. The announcement is welcome because consultation needs to take place.

This morning I read a brief piece on the matter. In his press release the Commissioner stated the aim of the review was to modernise and simplify the CAP. It will be a very big task to simplify it. We all know that there are major challenges to it in terms of food production, globalisation, the environment and how farmers and environmentalists work together. Other challenges include addressing the impact of Brexit, the effects the Russian import ban has had on agriculture, the slump in milk prices following the downturn and the lifting of quotas, market volatility and diversity. The key message to come from the Commissioner was that the consultation process presented an opportunity to discuss how the CAP could be simplified and still be meaningful and effective. This House needs to send a clear message on CAP reform. I ask all Members to spread the word about the three-month consultation process in their respective constituencies through the organisations, groups and bodies with which they are involved. I want them to ask and encourage people to engage in it in a meaningful way.

Will the Leader indicate whether he has made progress on the establishment of a Seanad committee on Brexit? Clearly, Brexit will have an enormous negative impact on the agriculture sector on this island and in the United Kingdom.