Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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452. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if it is intended to amend the single farm payment in order that it may only be awarded in respect of currently productive farms as opposed to non-productive farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29135/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The three EU institutions, Council, Parliament and Commission are in agreement that Direct Payments should be targeted to farmers actively engaged in production. However the definition of an active farmer is still the subject of substantial discussion in the CAP reform negotiations and there is no clear outcome as yet. The current final stage of the negotiations involves reaching agreement between the three Institutions. At this point it is too early to speculate on the final definition that may emerge.