Vol. 449 No. 3
25 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry in view of the fact that Irish and European lamb prices have not converged as anticipated, when the present method of fixing the ewe premium was decided on; and if he will ensure that the EU revert to the old single island system of calculation in order that Irish sheep farmers will not continue to be discriminated against compared to their continental counterparts. [3486/95]
It is acknowledged that Irish sheep prices to date have not converged on those of other member states as much as had been envisaged when the present single premium system was put in place.
The opportunities to reopen the issue of a regional or individual member state premium as against the single premium now payable throughout the European Union, do not realistically exist at this stage. The present system was established because of the Single Market and of CAP reform in the sheepmeat sector.I have been considering possibilities for achieving more equitable support arrangements for Irish producers and have put suggestions to the Commission and to the President of the Council of Agriculture Ministers which would achieve that aim. I will continue to press this issue.
