Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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123. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline his engagements regarding the Common Agricultural Policy post-2027. [54992/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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At the most recent AgriFish Council meeting, held in Brussels in September 2025, I took the opportunity to underline that the proposed governance and structure of the post-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) represent a major change in how the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) will operate, with the introduction of the National and Regional Partnership Plans (NRPPs) replacing the existing two-pillar model.

I emphasised that the CAP must remain a policy that works in practice — one that delivers stability and predictability for farmers, while remaining manageable for national administrations.

I highlighted the need for sufficient flexibility for Member States to design schemes suited to their own agri-food systems, while preserving the integrity of the CAP as a common European policy. I also stressed that the budget dimension is of central importance. While I welcome Commission Hansen's efforts in securing a €296 billion ring-fenced EU-wide CAP envelope, Ireland’s indicative ring-fenced allocation of €8.16 billion represents a significant reduction from the current CAP allocation of €10.7 billion. This is a substantial change, and one that raises concerns around maintaining an effective level of support for farmers and rural communities.

I also sought further clarity on how the integration of CAP within the wider NRPP structure will operate in practice — particularly how funding certainty, co-financing rates and conditionality requirements will be managed where CAP measures are combined with other EU budget instruments.

On the margins of Council, I also held bilateral meetings with my counterparts from France and the Czech Republic. These discussions provided a valuable opportunity to exchange views on the Commission’s proposals and to emphasise our shared priorities for a strong, well-funded and workable CAP that supports farm incomes, food security and rural resilience.

With my Department, I will remain actively engaged in discussions with the Commission and other Member States to ensure that Ireland’s priorities are fully represented as negotiations on the future CAP progress.