The EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development has said in Dublin that payments to farmers throughout Europe must be more fairly distributed among member states.
Dacian Ciolos also suggested that there may be changes in the way farmers are assessed for payments.
The Commissioner was in Dublin for discussions about a new round of reforms in the Common Agriculture Policy.
The proposed changes will be outlined in the middle of November.
This morning, the Commissioner met the Taoiseach, Minister Brendan Smith, Minister Pat Carey and the Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture.
Mr Ciolos was also meeting executives from the agri-food industry, as well as farming leaders.
Ireland is keen to hold onto the €1.8bn it gets every year from the CAP and today leaders will be looking for indications about how much Ireland will get in future and how it will be shared out.
Addressing the Oireachtas Agriculture Committee about the future of the CAP, he said a strong policy is important for all of European society and not just for farmers.
The Commissioner said the main priorities in any reforms were the maintenance of food production capacity in all regions of Europe, the management of natural resources and territorial balance.
He said the direct payments model was crucial for the future of the CAP and was not up for discussion.
Mr Ciolos said direct payments had to be backed up by a strong package of market measures to avoid volatility in prices and farm incomes.
