Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 124: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the position regarding the CAP review and health check; if provision has been made or is expected to be made to restore the concept of self sufficiency and adequacy and continuity of supply within the EU; if an assessment has been carried out into the reason for the reduction in supply in the past three years; if these reasons are expected to be fully addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25589/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The Commission presented its legislative proposals on the Health Check to the Informal Agriculture Council in Slovenia on 27 May. The proposals are currently being examined in Council Working Groups and the Special Committee on Agriculture. The impact of the whole package of measures on Irish agriculture will clearly depend on what is agreed at the end of the negotiations. The aim is to reach agreement at the November meeting of the Council of Agriculture Ministers.

The CAP Health Check does not seek to fundamentally alter the principles of the CAP which include the concepts of adequacy and continuity of supply within the EU. Rather the stated purpose of the Commission is to ensure that the CAP is best placed to meet upcoming challenges including climate change, bio-energy, water management, bio-diversity and food security.

My aim in the negotiations will be to achieve the best possible outcome for Ireland and for agriculture. I 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.

A consultative process with key stakeholders has been established to advise on the main issues arising in the Health Check and the output from this will feed into Ireland's position in the negotiations.