Written answers

Tuesday, 24 September 2013

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Common Agricultural Policy Reform

Photo of Michael McGrathMichael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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75. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to publish a discussion document on Pillar 2 options under the Common Agricultural Policy reform programme; if he plans to announce his firm proposals in relation to Pillar 1 and Pillar 2 at the same time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39534/13]

Photo of Michael MoynihanMichael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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81. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the latest date for informing the EU of the national arrangements under Pillar 1 and 2 of the Common Agricultural Policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39546/13]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 75 and 81 together.

After an in-depth process of consultation and negotiation that was initiated in 2011, the Council of Ministers, the European Parliament and the Commission reached agreement on the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy under the Irish Presidency on 26 June 2013. The agreement provides a framework for the continuing application of the CAP for the period 2015 to 2019, ensuring uniformity between Member States of the Union while allowing for a high degree of flexibility for Member States in their application of individual measures.

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 Payments Regulation (Pillar 1) in light of Ireland's unique agricultural profile and circumstances. The final date for submissions on the Consultative Paper was last Friday, 20th September. I intend to formulate and publicise the final shape of the CAP in Ireland towards the end of 2013.

Under the new Direct Payments Regulation, there are a number of dates by which Member States must notify the Commission of the national arrangements under Pillar 1. The earliest such date relevant to Ireland is 1 August 2014. In relation to Pillar 2, preparatory work for the next Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2014 – 2020 is well underway. Under the current draft Rural Development Regulation, my Department must undertake an ex ante evaluation, a public consultation, a SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) a needs assessment, a strategic environmental assessment (SEA) and an appropriate assessment (AA) in developing our Rural Development Programme. An independent evaluator has been contracted to prepare the ex-ante evaluation report, SEA and AA and to advise on the SWOT analysis.

An initial consultation process was launched in 2012, and written submissions were received from over 80 stakeholders. These submissions have been analysed by my Department and have fed into the development of the SWOT and needs analyses. A second consultation was held in July, where stakeholders attended a full day workshop on the draft SWOT and needs analyses. Based on the outcome of these processes, the drafting of a new programme is being advanced in my Department, and it is intended that further stakeholder consultation will form part of this.

The submission of a new RDP will be interlinked with the submission by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform of an overall Partnership Agreement which will form the framework document for EAFRD funding and the other structural funds.

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