Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 377: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has achieved a reversal of any previous proposals in the CAP reform in the course of the CAP health checks currently in progress; the extent to which he has succeeded in safeguarding the Irish and European food producing sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19888/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The Commission proposals on the Health Check of the CAP will be published this afternoon. They will be presented for the first time at the Informal Council of Ministers in Slovenia on 27 May where I will have an opportunity to give a first reaction. The negotiating process will commence under the Slovenian Presidency with a series of Working Groups in May and June and will continue under the French Presidency with further Working Groups in July through to October. The proposals will also be discussed at the Special Committee for Agriculture and Council meetings between June and September.

My aim in the negotiations will be to achieve the best possible outcome for Ireland, for agriculture and for the agrifood sector. We have already outlined the issues of concern to Ireland to Commissioner Fischer Boel, to Commission officials, and to colleagues in other Member States. I will continue to take an active role in the discussions at every opportunity and to reiterate our priorities. These include:

Ensuring that further simplification of the Single Payment Scheme (SPS) and cross-compliance is delivered;

In preparation for expiry of milk quotas in 2015, seeking ambitious annual quota increases and clear, predictable decisions taken at this stage to give policy certainty to producers and the industry;

Maintaining effective market management measures to cater for any market volatility that may occur;

Opposing the proposed increase in compulsory modulation.

I will also be seeking a degree of subsidiarity in a number of areas but specifically in relation to the management of the Single Payment Scheme, to adjust policy to national circumstances.