Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Question 90: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if there are intentions to link farm safety to cross compliance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22020/10]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 104: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he plans to link farm safety to cross compliance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22012/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 90 and 104 together.

Farmers in receipt of direct payments (Single Payment Scheme, Disadvantaged Areas' Scheme and Rural Environmental Protection Scheme) must comply with a total of 18 Statutory Management Requirements (SMRs) in the areas of Environment, Public, Animal and Plant Health, and Animal Welfare. This is known as cross-compliance. Any change to the existing cross-compliance arrangements would require an amendment to the relevant Council Regulation following a proposal from the European Commission. No such proposal has been made by the Commission.