Michelle Mulherin (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am delighted to join in the warm welcome for the Commissioner in Seanad Éireann. Time is limited, so I will confine my contribution to taking the opportunity to ask questions.

At the most recent visit to the Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach by the Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs and the Euro, he took the opportunity to set out all the challenges facing Ireland under the new Common Agricultural Policy due to the withdrawal of Britain from the European Union. However, in the process of doing that, he provided reassurance to everybody present that we had the Commissioner at the table batting for us. We all know the Commissioner is invaluable in Europe at this time and that he is wearing the green jersey. I thank him for that.

The particular impact arises from the big hole that will be in the European budget when Britain leaves the EU. The Taoiseach has indicated that as we are now net contributors to the EU budget; he is prepared to give more providing other member states are prepared to do so. The Commission wants a bigger post-Brexit budget, and I understand its position, but what is the appetite for that among the other member states? How likely are we to see that happen?

Direct payments under the new Common Agricultural Policy are essential. They are required to keep farmers in business and ensure that we not only have food security but that we have quality and environmentally friendly produced food on our tables.

I ask the Commissioner about the definition of "active farmers", which I know is under consideration. In many parts of the country, and the west and north west is one of the biggest, farmers are eking out an existence on marginal land. They are trying to be as productive as possible but in many ways what they are doing lends itself only to part-time farming. Many suckler cow, sheep farmers and others are in that situation. The reality is that they are part-time farmers. Is there a chance that the interpretation of "active farmers" will go against them and not recognise the reality that they are doing their best? They are also having to contend with poor, unproductive but designated land, which provides further restriction and regulation on the methods they can use to get the most out of the land.

When I and a number of other members of the joint Oireachtas committee met the Commissioner just before Christmas to discuss the new Common Agricultural Policy, he explained to us that there will be increased environmental demands on farmers in regard to biodiversity, water quality and climate change. The Minister, Deputy Creed, is on record stating that if we are to ask farmers to do more environmentally, they need more money if there are costs associated with that. What is the thinking on that?

Successful farming is subject to the vagaries of the weather. The weather is not too kind, and there is great evidence of climate change. We see that with the predicament of grain farmers and the long winter we have had during which all farmers experienced fodder shortages and the need to house animals over long periods of time. Farmers are in a weak position in the food supply chain. The Commissioner has undertaken a body of work to try to address that on an EU-wide basis but where these farmers are dealing with multiple retailers and factories, what practical steps will arise from that? Where will they see the difference? The farmer is getting a very small payment compared to what the multiple retailers and the meat factories get. How can we better protect farmers and what practical steps can be taken in that regard?

There is a lot of concern among beef farmers in terms of Mercosur. Also, what EU supports are available for farmers in the areas of microgeneration of renewable energy, anaerobic digestion, biomass, wind and solar energy? Nationally, we have targets for 2020, which have been rolled over to 2030. Will we face penalties for every year beyond 2020 if we miss our current targets, which I understand there is a danger of doing?

The Commissioner is dealing with rural development. A major challenge in rural development is the way habitats and birds directives are being interpreted. They are blocking infrastructure development in terms of the building of roads. Habitats, birds and other species seem to be more important than development and progress for human beings. There is not a fair balance. Regarding the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015, will the Commissioner outline the views of other EU member states and the Commission on the proposed labelling of alcohol as causing cancer and so forth? While Ireland has wine producers, it is more the case that we have whiskey producers. I would be interested in the Commissioner's response.