Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 444: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the EU Commission analysis that the greening measure under the Common Agricultural Policy 2013 reform will cost farmers here €15 per hectare; and if he will outline his analysis of the costs of greening. [33189/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I have examined the Impact Analysis prepared by the EU Commission of various alternative options for greening that were considered by the Commission prior to publication of the legal proposals. This analysis estimates the cost of greening for Ireland at between €23 and €25 per hectare, assuming an ecological set aside ranging between 5 and 10%. However, the options analysed do not match the actual proposal from the Commission.

The reality is that it is premature to attribute definitive costs to the greening proposals at this point. We need much more clarity concerning the detailed conditions attaching to the proposals before we can calculate any costs involved. This is why the Polish Presidency has organised a series of Working Groups to examine the technical details of the proposals. These are taking place over the coming months.