asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food whether, in the light of the potentially serious consequences for the Irish sheep industry of the EC Commission proposal to use the average EC market price for the calculation of the ewe premium, he has alternative proposals; and, if so, if he will give details of same.
Written Answers. - Ewe Premium.
42.
I can support the aim of a single market and, in particular, the proposal to move to one system of support throughout the Community. However, I cannot support any proposal to base the ewe premium on a single income loss since this ignores the wide divergence in Community market prices. The existing sheepmeat regime recognises Ireland's particular difficulty by virtue of its distance from and dependence on continental markets. It is important that any new arrangements take due account of this fact.
This particular proposal is one of several put forward by the European Commission for reform of both the internal and external regimes. The new arrangements must be finalised before the end of the year. In the months ahead I will be pressing the Commission to amend its proposals on the calculation of the ewe premium to allow for a more gradual approach and for one which continues to protect producer incomes in Ireland.