Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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72. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the action he will take to support the suckler cow sector as part of the Common Agricultural Policy reform 2013 implementation; the proposals he is considering to finance such support from CAP and national finances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39539/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Direct Payment Regulation which will take effect from 2015 gives Member States the option to grant Coupled Support to farmers. Such support is restricted to a specified list of sectors which includes cereals, protein crops, potato, milk and milk products, sheep-meat and beef. In addition such support may only be granted in circumstances where any such sector is undergoing certain difficulties and has economic, social or environmental significance. Coupled Support may only be granted to maintain current levels of production.

Ireland may allocate up to 8% of its annual national ceiling for Coupled Support with the option for an additional 2% to support protein crops. Support under this scheme would take the form of an annual payment and would be based on fixed areas and yields or on a fixed number of animals.

In July of this year I initiated a process of consultation with all relevant stakeholders to ascertain their views on the most appropriate application of the Direct Payment Regulation in light of Ireland’s unique agricultural profile and circumstances. Until this process of consultation is complete, I am not in a position to discuss the final shape of the new Direct Payments regime in Ireland.