Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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275. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on coupled payments in the context of future CAP reviews for suckler beef producers; the number of EU member states currently which have coupled suckler payments in operation under the current CAP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7930/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Ireland has taken a broadly favourable view of the recent evolution of the CAP, which has supported a greater market orientation of the agriculture sector and a move away from older, largely ineffective market control measures.

The decoupling of payments from production has helped to stabilise and protect a share of farmers’ income while leaving farmers free to respond to the demands of the market. This freedom to respond to market forces is particularly important in the context of Ireland’s ambitious plans for the growth of the sector, as set out in the Food Wise 2025 strategy.

We would therefore not favour a return to coupled payments, but instead look to the use of more flexible and innovative means (such as futures markets and hedging) to help mitigate the effects of market volatility.

My Department does not retain information on coupled payments in other Member States.