Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 23 Apr 1991

Vol. 407 No. 3

Written Answers. - Withholding of Grant Payments.

John Connor

Question:

128 Mr. Connor asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will outline his views on whether it is unfair on the part of his Department to withhold livestock or other grants to farmers who have a dispute with the Minister under the bovine diseases regulations, particularly in cases where the matter is the compensation paid to a farmer for the removal of reactor animals, particularly in the light of a recent court decision on compensation for reactor animals; and if he will undertake that the withholding of such grants will not in future be used as a weapon in disputes with farmers over compensation and removal of reactors.

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. O'Kennedy)

It is a condition of the livestock headage schemes in disadvantaged areas that applicants comply fully with the provisions of the Diseases of Animals Act, 1966, and any official schemes for eradication of animal disease. Since large amounts of public money have been and continue to be spent on eradicating animal disease, I consider it entirely reasonable that the farm improvement and disadvantaged areas schemes, which are also partially funded by the Exchequer, should contain such a condition.

In deciding whether livestock and other grants should be withheld in any particular case, regard will be had for any court decisions affecting such matters.

The regulations governing the EC suckler cow, special beef premium and ewe premium schemes — which are fully funded by the EC — do not provide for the withholding of grants for infringements of animal health regulations and grants due under these schemes are not withheld from herdowners for non-compliance with disease eradication schemes.