Vol. 431 No. 3
18 Mr. Cox asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if there is an EC proposal to introduce a quota on suckler cows; if so, if such a proposal would have the effect of reducing the premia payments to Irish farmers; and the action, if any, he is taking in the matter.
31 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if there is an EC proposal to introduce a quota on suckler cows; if so, if such a proposal would have the effect of reducing the premia payments to Irish farmers; and the action, if any, he is taking in the matter.
33 Miss Quill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if there is an EC proposal to introduce a quota on suckler cows; if so, if such a proposal would have the effect of reducing the premia payments to Irish farmers; and the action, if any, he is taking in the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 18, 31 and 33 together.
The Common Agricultural Policy reform arrangements decide by the EC Council of Ministers last June provide that suckler cow premium payments shall be subject to a quota applied at individual producer level. The individual quotas are based on the number of suckler cows in respect of which premium payments were made in 1992. Consequently farmers who so wished have had an opportunity to increase their herds to maximise their quotas. As part of the Common Agricultural Policy reform arrangements the rates of premium will also be increased substantially in three annual stages over 1992 rates. The overall effect of the new arrangements, therefore, will be a considerable increase in premium payments to farmers.
