Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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65. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the proposals under consideration by the EU Agriculture Council to have additional funding provided for CAP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38124/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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At the outset, I would like to point out that in discussing the funding of the Common Agricultural Policy, we should bear in mind that this funding forms part of a broader EU budget which is negotiated by Finance Ministers and then agreed by Heads of State and Government at the European Council.

The European Commission is due to set out proposals for the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) in mid-2025. Negotiations on the MFF proposals will subsequently commence and will likely run in parallel to the CAP post 2027 negotiations.

Proposals for CAP post 2027 are also due to be published in mid-2025.

The agri-food sector is of critical importance to the Irish economy, and its regional spread means it underpins the socio-economic development of rural areas in particular. Ireland is committed to working with the EU institutions and Member States to ensure robust funding for the Common Agriculture Policy so that it meets both new challenges and opportunities.

Ireland continues to engage with the EU institutions on key areas of agricultural policy and debate, including the recently published ‘Strategic Dialogue on the Future of EU Agriculture’. The development of this report is one of a number of important inputs to the process of developing the next CAP. While there are some elements in the report that are broadly welcome, it is just one element that will feed into legislative proposals to be published by the EU Commission in mid-2025.

My Department will also be engaging with the Commission upon the publication of its report ‘Vision for Agriculture and Food’, which is due to be delivered in the first 100 days of President von der Leyen's second mandate.

Ireland needs to work closely with its EU colleagues to build a consensus around maintaining a strong CAP. I would like to reassure the Deputy that I will continue to do this, and to fight for a well-funded CAP which can deliver upon the multiple objectives of the sector.