Relevant Matter
Public policy or programme
Public Policy Area
Agriculture
Period
1 Jan, 2017 to 30 Apr, 2017
Specific Details
Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) Post 2020 Review
Intended results
To ensure a strong CAP budget post 2020. This is critical for farm incomes, farm output and wider economic activity
As per the original objectives of the CAP set out in the Treaty of Rome, a reshaped CAP post 2020 must ensure a fair standard of living for farmer. The Basic Payment under Pillar I remain the main instrument for underpinning and stabilising farm incomes.
Basic Payment and the Active Farmer - The Basic Payment under Pillar I must support active farmers. The role of the Basic Payment is to support quality food production and the provision of public goods, which meet the highest food safety, animal health and welfare and environmental standards.
Greening - the current structure of the basic payment, with the separate 30% Greening element is too complex. The Basic Payment should incorporate the greening funding element in full.
Market Support measures - A full range of market support measures, including intervention and Aids to Private Storage (APS), should be provided in the re-shaped CAP post 2020. The trigger levels for these supports are set at realistic levels so as to provide meaningful income support to producers when required. Support for Producer Groups across all sectors and particularly for the horticulture sector, is very important to enhance farmers’ position in the supply chain, and must be retained.
Pillar I and II - The two pillar model of the CAP should be retained under a re-shaped and modernised CAP. The role of the Basic Payment and market support measures in Pillar 1 is to support farm incomes and the delivery of public goods. The main focus of the Rural Development Programme under CAP Pillar II is on farm-based and other rural economic, environmental and social programmes, which reflect the different needs and objectives of Member States.
Intergenerational renewal Measures - to support intergenerational renewal in both Pillars I and II should be continued in a re-shaped CAP, including the Young Farmer Scheme, National Reserve, and targeted measures under Pillar II. Intergenerational renewal must be enhanced through providing supports for retiring farmers and not just for new entrants.
Rural Development - It is critical that a well-funded Rural Development programme is agreed as part of the re-shaped CAP Post-2020. For farm-level programmes across all sectors, it is very important that funding is primarily directed at the farmers who are participating in the programmes. The Rural Development Plan (RDP) must contain measures that:
• Improve competitiveness at farm level and enhance knowledge transfer and innovation;
• Encourage restructuring of the agriculture sector, both for new entrants and those looking to retire from farming;
• Preserve agriculture and other economic activity in rural areas;
• Support the continuation of farming in Areas of Natural Constraint;
• Protect the rural environment and landscape;
• assist farmers in meeting new challenges, including climate change mitigation, renewable energy, water management and biodiversity and
• Encourage enterprise development and employment in the rural economy.
Simplification & Modernisation - while previous CAP reforms have identified the need for simplification, the practical reality is that the CAP has become much more complicated and bureaucratic at farm level. This is particularly the case for the inspection and audit process and the application of eligibility and cross compliance requirements under the statutory management practices.
Meaningful simplification under cross compliance/GAEC and SMRs must be introduced in a re-shaped CAP, through moving away from the audit inspection structure and adopting greater use of technology.
Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity
Joe Healy IFA President
Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?)
No
Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign?
No
Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client?
No
Lobbying activity
The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.
Designated public officials lobbied
The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them.
As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.
Pat Deering
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Charlie McConalogue
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Paul Daly
Senator (Seanad)
Michelle Mulherin
Senator (Seanad)
Kevin O'Keeffe
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Mairead McGuinness
MEP (European Parliament)