Common Agricultural Policy
Dail Éireann — 2026-03-19
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Peter 'Chap' Cleere (FF), Carlow-Kilkenny

I am delighted to see so much engagement in relation to the Common Agricultural Policy because, for Ireland, this debate is not simply another EU policy negotiation. As the Minister himself said, it is about the future of rural communities, family farming and food production in a country where agriculture remains one of our most important indigenous industries. As negotiations around CAP 2027 begin to take shape, Ireland has to ensure that its voice is strong and influential in Brussels through the Minister, the Minister for Finance and the Taoiseach.
As the Minister, Deputy Heydon, mentioned, Irish agriculture is unique in Europe. Our grass-based production system is among the most sustainable in the world, producing high-quality food with a comparatively low carbon footprint. Most importantly, our agriculture sector is built not on vast industrial farms but on family farms that have been passed down through generations. Ireland's agricultural success has never been built on industrial mega farms; it has been built on family farms. That model must remain at the centre of the CAP going forward.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-03-19/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:45+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-03-19