Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 159: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food his intentions to ensure that farming and food production remains an attractive option for farm families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28108/11]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 160: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the steps he will take, in conjunction with his EU colleagues, to protect the concept of the viability of the family farm enterprise throughout Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28109/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 159 and 160 together.

The Government's strategy for development of the agri-food sector, Food Harvest 2020, is built on the premise of sustainable food production by family farms. This is also the basis of the European Model of Agriculture, supported by the Common Agricultural Policy, which combines the goals of sustainable and competitive food production with management of our natural resources and balanced rural development. It is my intention in the upcoming negotiations on the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy to ensure that the reform delivers the environment in which Irish agriculture and food production can develop and prosper based on viable family farms. My priorities in the negotiations are:

To ensure that the negotiations on the next EU budget framework deliver a well resourced CAP;

To retain Ireland's funding both for direct payments and for rural development in any redistribution of CAP funds between Member States;

To obtain flexibility for Member States with regard to payment models and transition arrangements for distribution of single payment funds to farmers;

To ensure that rural development policy includes appropriate targeted measures to support competitiveness and sustainability; and

To keep CAP processes as simple and as effective as possible and to minimise unnecessary bureaucracy for farmers and costs to the State.