Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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172. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the likely potential for expansion in the beef, lamb, pig meat and poultry sectors in this country and throughout the EU in the aftermath of Common Agricultural Policy reform agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48765/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Achieving political agreement on CAP reform was a major success for the Irish Presidency of the EU Council. The CAP reform deal that I negotiated is a well-balanced package of measures that provide policy certainty for our largest indigenous industry up to 2020 and is consistent with the smart, green, growth path laid out in Food Harvest (FH) 2020.

Member States are afforded a considerable measure of flexibility in how they implement the new regime. My Department is at present deliberating on the options, following a public consultation on the matter, with a view to finalising the key elements before year end.

However, the political agreement on the basic share of the direct payment and rural development reforms, which will take effect in 2015, secures the production base of the Irish meat and livestock sectors. As a result, I am confident that operators in the sectors referred to by the Deputy are now better positioned to meet the competitive challenges of the international marketplace.