Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 558: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he proposes to reform all farm payments or supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14859/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that the EU Commission published proposals for reform of the Common Agricultural Policy in October last that will, if implemented, bring about significant changes to the Single Farm Payment and to the systems of support for the market and for rural development.

My priorities in these negotiations are:

· To ensure that the negotiations on the next EU budget framework deliver a well- resourced CAP to support sustainable food production in the EU;

· 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 in relation 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 finally,

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

At present we are at a very early stage in what are likely to prove lengthy negotiations in relation to these proposals, with work currently taking place at technical level. In that connection, since I took up office last year I have made it a priority to build up alliances with my counterparts in like-minded Member States in order to garner support for my position on the proposed reform of the CAP. My intention is to maintain and develop alliances with like-minded Member States to secure the best possible outcome for Ireland in these negotiations.