Committee Reports > List of Committees > Joint > 1991 > Committee on the Secondary Legislation of the European Communities (6th Committee) > Report No. 10 - Reform of the Common Agricultural Policy

PROCEEDINGS OF THE JOINT COMMITTEE

Wednesday, 24 July, 1991

1.The Joint Committee met at 4.00 p.m.

2.MEMBERS PRESENT.

The following Members were present:

Deputies Barry (in the Chair), S. Barrett, Briscoe, Durkan, Ellis, Ferris, Fitzpatrick, Hogan, McCormack, Nolan and N. O’Keeffe; Senators Doyle, Farrell, Hussey, Murphy and E. Ryan.

3.DRAFT REPORT ON THE REFORM OF THE COMMON AGRICULTURAL POLICY.

Deputy Ellis brought forward a Draft Report which was read as follows:-

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Paragraphs 1 to 85 inclusive, agreed to.

Paragraph 86.

Sub-Paragraph 1 read as follows:-

Cereals: Severe price cuts are likely to prompt some farmers to intensify their production. Others will experience lower incomes. What the Joint Committee recommends is emphasis on set aside. It also recommends that land that is set aside should be available for farming any non-CAP commodity.

Amendment proposed (Senator Doyle):

“To delete the words ‘non-CAP’ and insert the words ‘non-surplus’.”

Amendment agreed to.

Sub-Paragraph 3 read as follows:-

Beef: The Joint Committee believes that the current surplus in this commodity may prove to be related to temporary factors like the Gulf War and the BSE scare. Consequently, the large price reductions proposed by the Commission may be unnecessary in the medium term. But if supply is to be controlled the Joint Committee considers that the reduction in the milk quota will lead to a fall in beef production. If further cuts are required these can be introduced, as required, on special categories such as low quality calves.

Amendment proposed (Senator Doyle):

“After ‘calves.’ to add the following sentence:-

‘In any case the stocking rates proposed by the Commission will impose severe constraints on many thousands of Irish farmers and must be rejected’.”

Amendment agreed to.

Paragraph, as amended, agreed to.

Paragraphs 87 to 89 inclusive, agreed to.

Paragraph 90.

Paragraph read as follows:-

Irish agriculture is of fundamental importance to the Irish Economy. The development of the CAP in recent years has given rise to problems, but these are due to a variety of factors, and Irish agriculture has contributed little to them. Nevertheless, the evidence before the Joint Committee shows that Irish agriculture is very exposed to the impact of these reforms and will suffer disproportionately. For these reasons the Joint Committee rejects the proposals and recommends alternatives. These alternatives will help the chances of survival of the Irish family farm, and of the many thousands of jobs in industry and services which depend on agriculture.

Amendment proposed (Senator Doyle):

“After ‘family’ to delete the word ‘farm’ and insert the words ‘and commercial farms alike’.”

Amendment agreed to.

Paragraph, as amended, agreed to.

Paragraph 91 agreed to.

Draft Report, as amended, agreed to.

Ordered: To Report accordingly.

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4.ADJOURNMENT.

The Joint Committee adjourned at 5.30 p.m.