Just seven Irish contributions to public debate on future of CAP

ONE thousand contributions have been made to the public debate on the future of the Common Agricultural Policy – but only seven have been from Ireland.

Figures released by the European Commission show the largest number of responses have come from France (275) and Germany (229).

The public debate which Agriculture and Rural Development Commissioner Dacian Ciolos launched on April 12 will remain open until June 3.

Responses from all parts of society are being sought by the Commission on the following four fundamental questions about future policy.

* Why is there a need for a CAP?

* What do citizens expect from agriculture?

* Why reform the CAP?

* What tools are needed for the CAP of tomorrow?

There is no set target figure for the number of contributions, but Mr Ciolos, said he was satisfied with the strong response from a large number of member states, underlining again his hope that the debate stimulates interest from the wider public.

When the debate is over, an external company will evaluate the comments and present a report in time for a conference in Brussels on July 19-20. The Commission is scheduled to present its blueprint for the post-2013 CAP in November. People wishing to participate in the continuing debate can do so at http://ec.europa.eu/cap-debate

Meanwhile, John Bryan and Jim McLarn, the respective presidents of the Irish Farmers Association and the National Farmers Union Scotland, have pledged to work together to secure a properly funded CAP that continues to support active farmers post-2013.

They held a bilateral meeting during a visit by the NFU Scotland Board to the Irish Farm Centre in Dublin and agreed to remain in contact during the CAP review process.

Mr Bryan said both the IFA and NFU Scotland recognise the importance of the CAP and safeguarding the single farm payment for producers in Ireland and Scotland. He said he and Mr McLaren are committed to mounting a strong, joint campaign to highlight the value of the CAP and the significant benefits across a number of key areas for producers, consumers, the rural economy, the environment and food security.

Mr McLaren stressed that NFU Scotland is fully behind the campaign to secure a fully funded CAP that will deliver a meaningful single farm payment to active farmers after its forthcoming review.

“Both organisations will work closely in the coming months as the debate steps up, and will co-operate at European level to build a stronger case for the CAP,” he said.