Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

300. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on proposals at European level to allow member states to decide their own definition of an active famer; the work ongoing in his Department on developing a national definition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11054/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As part of the Commission's Omnibus Proposal, which proposes a limited number of simplification-related changes to the CAP reform regulations, the Commission, in recognition of the difficulties being experienced by Member States in implementing the three criteria for being regarded as an active farmer, has proposed that Member States should have the possibility of being able to use just one or two of the criteria.  This flexibility applies to the Direct Payments and Rural Development regulations.

Ireland supports the Commission's proposal to simplify the definition of the active farmer.  We will await the outcome of discussions at EU level before amending the current definition of active farmer in Ireland.

It should be noted that Ireland applied the three criteria set out in the EU Regulations regarding the active farmer in 2015 and 2016 and all farmers otherwise eligible for the Basic Payment Scheme have satisfied the active farmer requirements.