Gerard C. Connolly
Question:115 Mr. Connolly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when a beef premium will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly.
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
The person named applied for the June 1993 special beef premium in respect of 11 bullocks. My Department's inspector visited her on 2 September 1993 and found all 11 bullocks were punched in the wrong ear. She was asked to ear punch them correctly within seven days and confirm same to my Department. In the absence of this contribution my Department is unable to process this application for payment.
Michael Finucane
Question:116 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when payment of beef cow premium will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick under the 1992 scheme as authorisation for payment was sent to his Department in November 1993; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person named was paid his 1992 beef cow grant on 1 December 1992. He was not eligible under the 1993 beef cow scheme as the animals on which he applied for grant had not calved at application date as required under the conditions of the scheme.
Michael Finucane
Question:117 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if his attention has been drawn to the financial hardship as a result of a regulation whereby farmers who sell animals at marts without getting their cards stamped are therefore debarred from payment of beef premia; if, in view of the fact that farmers were not aware of this regulation, he will allow payment to farmers who have been so affected; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Under the January/February 1993 special beef premium scheme it was set out clearly at paragraph 5 of the terms and conditions which accompanied each application that the applicant had to forward to his-her local office of my Department the cattle identity cards for scrutiny, punching and — or stamping of those cards before sale other than in cases where an applicant was the subject of an on-farm inspection. Under the June and November 1993 special beef premium schemes it was set out clearly at paragraph 4 of the terms and conditions accompanying each application that the cattle identity cards had to accompany all applications submitted to my Deparment.
It is not correct, therefore, to say that farmers were not aware of the need to have the cattle identity cards punched and stamped in 1993. This is a necessary control requirement in the scheme which I am unable to change.