The Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has today revealed a suite of measures which it believes will help secure the wellbeing of Irish agriculture and safeguard food security in the light of the significant changes to be made to the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) post 2013.The Committee undertook an intensive consultation process with relevant groups and associations in order to compile a comprehensive report for submission to the EU Commission. The findings of the report will contribute to the ongoing negotiations regarding the restructuring of the CAP.
Committee Chairman, Johnny Brady TD said; “The outcome of the current negotiations on CAP reform will provide the policy framework under which the Irish agriculture industry will operate in the period 2014-2020. The industry as a whole is of major significance to the Irish economy so the results of the talks process is of huge significance.
Our report reflects the perspectives and input of all aspects of the agriculture industry in Ireland so we believe this document will make a useful contribution to the debate.”
Some of the principle recommendations in the report include:
• Unfair commercial factors in the food chain should be addressed and where necessary, competition law amended to ensure equity for farmers.
• Resources needed for the CAP to preserve existing social, food security and environmental gains, including the costs of enlargement must be maintained.
• Negotiations should be sequenced so that final decisions on further changes will be taken in full knowledge of the resources available.
• Conditions attached to various schemes for both national administrators and farmers should be simplified.
• The possibility of providing additional assistance for active/young farmers through a special environmental scheme should be explored.
• Rural development measures should be expanded to enable farmers to modernise, increase productivity and achieve potential towards preserving the environment.
• The criteria for determining Less Favoured Areas (LFAs) should be sufficiently flexible.
Johnny Brady TD said; “The Committee feels the recommendations which we have made will assist in helping to ensure that Irish agriculture is properly served by any planned changes in the CAP. We believe that the upcoming changes represent an opportunity to restructure this vital scheme which can simplify procedures for Irish farmers as well as securing environment and food supply improvements.
If properly carried out and effectively resourced, the CAP post 2014 can also help to make certain that a reliable, sustainable and fair supply of food is available to the European market.”
Submissions were received from the following organisations which contributed to the Committee’s report; Carbery Group, Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association, Irish Co-operative Organisation Society, Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association, Irish Dairy Board, Irish Dairy Industries Association, Irish Farmers’ Association, Irish Grain and Feed Association, Irish Rural Link, Macra na Feirme and Meat Industry Ireland
The Committee would like to acknowledge the assistance of Mr Bart Brady in the compilation of this report.
The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) was first formulated in the 1960s. Because the then EEC had major deficits in many important products, food security played a significant role in shaping the policy. Support prices were set at relatively high levels which were maintained by high external tariffs and, where necessary, intervention buying and the subsidisation of exports.
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