Vol. 454 No. 6
48 Miss Harney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the progress, if any, he has made to secure changes in the method of calculation of the ewe premium so as to ensure compensation for the fall in the income of producers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11252/95]
I have raised the matter with the EU Commission and in discussions with Commissioner Fischler as well as other colleagues in the Council of Ministers. I have put specific proposals to the Commission in regard to adjusting the ewe premium to provide a more effective level of compensation for sheep producers.
As an immediate measure to assist producers I have successfully convinced the Commission to pay the first two tranches of the ewe premium together this year. This support will amount to about £80 million for sheep producers and will be paid out in the early part of next month.
Agreement was also secured for the implementation of a special programme of aid to private storage for 1994 lamb, available to Ireland only. In addition intensive promotion programmes have been launched for Irish lamb in France, which is the main outlet for Irish lamb and in Spain which is a promising new market.
