Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 380: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if her attention has been drawn to concerns within the farming sector regarding the future viability of agriculture here in the aftermath of the CAP reform and in anticipation of the WTO; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21914/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The 2003 CAP reforms have been very positive for Irish agriculture. They have provided farmers with certainty about income support levels through the Single Farm Payment, while freeing them to increase their income from the market by responding to consumer demands. My main concern, now, is to ensure that there is a period of stability to allow farmers to implement the changes necessitated by decoupling and to adapt to the market needs in a stable policy environment. The 2003 CAP reform is still being implemented and further major policy change should not be contemplated at this stage.

The Agrivision 2015 Action Plan which I published in March 2006 sets out my vision for a competitive, consumer-focused and knowledge driven agri-food sector which will contribute to a vibrant rural economy, society and environment and which exploits opportunities in non-food areas. It was drawn up in the light of recent CAP reforms and the likelihood of a more liberalised trade policy under a new WTO agreement but also against the background of other changes which will impact on the sector. In relation to the ongoing WTO negotiations my over-riding objective is to ensure that the terms of the final agreement can be accommodated without the need for further reform of the CAP. I have consistently outlined my position in the clearest possible terms in the Agriculture and Fisheries Council. I will continue to work closely with like-minded Ministers in other Member States to seek support for my position. I am determined that any WTO agreement must be balanced and must not be concluded at the expense of EU and Irish agriculture.