Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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1391. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on introducing a grazing premium for beef and suckler cows as proposed in a study (details supplied) under pillar 1 of CAP in any future review. [38607/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The report referred to by the Deputy provides three suggested policy approaches for the EU cattle sector including the one specifically mentioned by the Deputy. I welcome the report as an important contribution to the debate on supporting the EU cattle sector overall. It should be noted that the report identifies two other policy approaches, namely market transparency and market information initiatives as well as product differentiation and institutional export promotion, as representing longer term approaches toward how the EU cattle sector could be sustainably supported in the coming decades and from which the entire sector would profit.

In general, Ireland has been supportive of a greater market orientation of the CAP, including by decoupling of payments from production, because farmers’ freedom to respond to the demands of the market is vital for the long-term development of the sector, as set out in Food Wise 2025. This allows farmers to calibrate production to market demand without compromising the Basic Payment Scheme.

I am of course very aware of the importance of a strong and vibrant suckler herd to the Irish rural economy. Through Pillar II of the CAP, some €300 million of funding over a six year period has been targeted towards the national suckler herd through the Bovine Data Genomics Programme (BDGP). In response to significant demand, I reopened the BDGP programme for new entrants earlier in the year. Several other supports are in place for suckler farmers under the

RDP, notably GLAS, ANCs and Knowledge Transfer groups. I am of the view that the current range of supports available to suckler farmers is the most appropriate way to support the continued development of this sector at this time.