Niall Collins (Limerick West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 32: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food his priorities on the forthcoming negotiations on the future of the Common Agricultural Policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45052/10]

Niall Collins (Limerick West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 59: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food his views on the recently announced Commission Communication on the Common Agricultural Policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45051/10]

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 74: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food his views on the Common Agricultural Policy reform proposals for a major change to the historic model of payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45176/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 32, 59 and 74 together.

At the EU Council of Agriculture Ministers meeting in Brussels on Monday, Ministers had their first opportunity to exchange views on the recently published Commission Communication on the Future of the CAP after 2013. I welcome the three main objectives identified in the Commission Communication – viable food production, sustainable management of natural resources and balanced rural development. I am in favour of the continuation of decoupled direct payments, the retention and enhancement of market management mechanisms and the development of the current rural development measures along with an increased focus on active farmers.

One of my priorities in these negotiations will be to preserve the Irish national envelope. My primary aim is to secure a direct payments system that provides our fair share of funding and that supports the viability of Irish farming. In that connection, the communication makes brief reference to the distribution of funds between member states under pillar 1 and pillar 2.

In relation to the proposed redesign of the direct payments model, at Monday's Council I expressed my support for considerable flexibility in the area of the distribution of CAP funds between farmers within each Member State, as is currently the case. We should not impose a 'one size fits all' payment model on all Member States. The agro-ecological and social conditions of farming vary hugely within the Union. I welcome the commitment in the Commission Communication to "simplification" , but this issue must be borne in mind when discussing any further 'greening' of the single payment. We should not underplay or undervalue the substantial environmental public good already being delivered through cross-compliance requirements.

Now, more than ever, we need to focus on ensuring security of supply of safe, high quality and sustainably produced food, for which we will require a strong and adequately resourced CAP. To be meaningful, this will require adequate resources and this must be reflected in the new EU financial framework. I view this communication as a first step in what will be a lengthy process of negotiations. Over the coming months, we will discuss the communication in greater detail with a view to agreeing conclusions on the general orientation of policy for the CAP after 2013, before the legislative proposals, due next July, are framed. I will continue to meet with my Ministerial colleagues in other EU Member States in to secure support for the Irish position.