Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 193: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the steps she is taking to address the burden of red tape in agriculture; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3559/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 177 and 193 together.

I am fully committed to reducing unnecessary bureaucracy in the administration of the CAP and one of my priorities is to pursue simplification of procedures at farm level. The adoption by Ireland of full decoupling under the Single Payment Scheme, thereby replacing six EU subsidy schemes each with complex application, qualification and implementation procedures, demonstrates in a very tangible manner the extent of my commitment. I have also, on a continuous basis, applied the benefits of IT, wherever possible, in the interests of quality customer service.

I fully support the EU Commission's ongoing efforts to reduce the regulatory burden of administration on producers, food processors and national administrations. I am contributing actively to this process. I have raised this issue on a number of occasions with the Commissioner and, indeed, with the German Presidency which is giving the highest priority to the process of simplification and the reduction of the bureaucratic burden of the CAP. On 10 January, I wrote to Commissioner Fischer Boel and the Presidency outlining my concerns in relation to a number of specific issues. My main concerns relate to the advance notification of inspections under the Single Payment Scheme and the level of sanctions to be applied under cross-compliance, including the extent of tolerance applied where non-compliance is inadvertent or negligible. I also raised these issues in the Council of Ministers on 29 January and urged the Commissioner to present proposals to improve the current situation as quickly as possible.

I believe that other aspects of the Single Farm Payment System should also be simplified. Specifically, I am seeking additional flexibility in the management of the National Reserve and in the leasing arrangements for payment entitlements. I have also sought rationalisation in the payment dates, additional flexibility in application of the 'ten-month rule' and simplification of the current 'modulated funds' deduction procedure.

I intend to pursue these issues actively with the Commission over the coming months.