Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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382. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the new measure agreed following the recent agreement at EU level of omnibus CAP regulations regarding simplification; when the changes will take effect here; and the impact the changes will have on ANC payments in 2018. [52773/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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In September 2016, under its mid-term review of the Multiannual Financial Framework 2014 - 2020, the Commission submitted its so-called Omnibus Proposal,  which revised the general financial rules concerning multiannual programmes across 15 sectoral acts,  including the CAP regulations.

The Omnibus Regulation has not yet been signed into law, but the agriculture elements are expected to enter into force early in the New Year.  While there are many elements within the proposal, the most substantial include a deferral to 2019 of the requirement to review ANC areas, a facility allowing member states to cease applying the administrative checks to determine if applicants for schemes meet the definition of active farmer, a facility to provide Young Farmers Scheme payments to applicants for five years from the date of application, regardless of their establishment date, and a facility to apply a linear cut to BPS payments to fund categories "specific disadvantage. 

The proposal also modifies the conditions attaching to rural development schemes supporting insurance contracts and  income stabilisation tools, although Ireland's Rural Development Programme does not include such provisions.   

In addition, if the regulation enters into force in early 2018, it allows 2018 ANC payments to be made before 16 October 2018, subject to the requisite checks and controls being undertaken.