Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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41. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding proposals for uplands and commonage in the CAP negotiations; and if he will give an assurance to protect the income of hill farmers. [27009/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The European Commission put forward its legislative proposals for the new Common Agricultural Policy to the European Parliament and to the Council of Ministers in June 2018. Following more than two years of negotiations, the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers both adopted their respective positions on the proposals in October 2020.

Trilogue negotiations between the Commission, European Parliament and the Council of Ministers, which are aimed at reaching a final shared agreement on the shape of the new CAP, commenced at the end of 2020. These negotiations are ongoing. The final agreement on the CAP is dependent on the outcome of the trilogue process.

My officials and I are examining all aspects of the evolving CAP proposals to assess their potential impact on all farmers. In addition, there is ongoing consultation with stakeholders on the proposals, including through the CAP Consultative Committee, which involves 27 different stakeholder groups, including those representing hill farmers. This consultation will continue as Ireland's CAP Strategic Plan is developed.

The position I am taking in the negotiations is that it is vital for Member States to retain as much subsidiarity as possible to allow them best address their identified needs within the CAP Strategic Plan.I am actively working with my European counterparts to achieve this goal, and to secure the best possible outcome for all Irish farmers, including our hill farmers.

I, along with this Government, unashamedly support hill farming in the short and medium term.