Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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281. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the requirement to have a minimum stocking density on marginal land for the basic payment and the greening payment is in compliance with World Trade Organisation rules; if he has consulted with the EU Commission on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46214/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Work is ongoing in relation to the implementation of the various measures under the CAP Regime based on the significant reforms adopted during the Irish Presidency in June 2013. These measures include schemes which are extremely important to Irish farmers, in particular, the Basic Payment Scheme, the Greening Payment, the Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme and GLAS. As over €1.5 billion will be paid to farmers on an annual basis under the Schemes, I want to ensure that the implementing provisions put in place provide that farmers can receive their payments on a timely basis and that the objectives of the various measures can be achieved. In that regard, my Department continue to have ongoing detailed discussions with the EU Commission with a view to establishing how best to achieve these aims while at the same time meeting the requirements of the EU Regulations.