Common Agricultural Policy
Dail Éireann — 2026-03-19
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Martin Heydon (FG), Kildare South

That is it exactly. The Deputy has articulated very clearly the impact of the Common Agricultural Policy on all of our rural communities. How do we achieve that? We achieve it in a number of ways. The Deputy identified generational renewable as one of the challenges of our time. This is not a challenge unique to us in Ireland or in even Europe. With growing urbanisation around the world and the fact that in Ireland we have full employment in a burgeoning economy, thankfully the next generation - farmers' children - have more options open to them economically than ever before. Commissioner Hansen's proposals about generational renewal are very ambitious and far-reaching. There is a number of them I can absolutely work with while there are some I would struggle with. Working through these and looking for the flexibility at member-state level to design generational measures best suit our system will be an important part of that. In a broader sense beyond even generational renewal, but definitely linked to it, is that the definition of the "active farmer" will be a critical point and that is something I will have to agree on. Through the CAP consultative committee we continue to engage with all stakeholders and I look forward to debating this in the House with the Deputy and other colleagues and at committee as well.

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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