Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his policy in encouraging new entrants into farming who take over a herd number or flock number which had entitlements in 2011; if such new entrants who take over directly from a retiring person will also inherit the entitlements under the new scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51098/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Proposals for the CAP reform post 2013 were published by the European Commission in October 2011 and negotiations are ongoing. Unfortunately, it is still too early to predict what the finer detail of any agreement will be. However, there is provision in the published regulation for dealing with inheritance of entitlements in cases such as that outlined by the Deputy. The conditions pertaining to such inheritance will be laid down in Commission implementing regulations.

I can assure the Deputy that since the start of these negotiations I have been to the forefront at EU level in supporting the cause of young farmers and new entrants and I will continue to do so throughout the negotiations. In this context, the Commission proposals contain a provision for making top-up payment to young farmers (under 40 years) and I fully support this proposal. I will also continue to consult with farming organisations and stakeholders as the negotiations progress.