Written answers

Thursday, 21 February 2008

Department of Agriculture and Food

Common Agricultural Policy

5:00 pm

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 153: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if it is intended that CAP reform is expected to become the basis for WTO discussions; if this is expected to result in a reduction in food production within the EU and greater dependency on imports; if this a wise decision at the present time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7348/08]

Photo of Mary CoughlanMary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The 2003 Reforms of the CAP were introduced in preparation for the current Round of WTO negotiations. The EU's move to decoupled payment supports, which are non-trade distorting, has allowed the EU to make very significant reduction commitments to its levels of trade distorting supports. These proposed reductions commitments are a very substantial contribution to this round of WTO negotiations that must be matched by other WTO negotiating partners.

I do not believe that these reforms will lead to negative impacts such as reductions in production. On the contrary I believe that there are and will be major benefits for producers and consumers arising out of the on-going implementation of the reformed CAP. The introduction of the full decoupling of direct payments under the Single Payment Scheme ensures that farmers now have the 'freedom to farm' and that the CAP will be geared towards the demands of the market and consumers. The Single Payment Scheme is linked to food safety, animal welfare and environmental standards. Irish farmers will receive single farm payments of about €1.3 billion in 2008 while consumers will be guaranteed a supply of safe food, produced to high animal welfare and environmental standards, at reasonable cost.

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