Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 27 Sep 1995

Vol. 456 No. 1

Written Answers. - Sheep Production.

Liam Hyland

Question:

170 Mr. Hyland asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the up to date position on his efforts to secure EU financial assistance for Ireland's lowland sheep producers, whose income has been seriously eroded with serious consequences for individual farmers and employment in the processing industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13498/95]

John Browne

Question:

172 Mr. Browne (Wexford) asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if, in addition to negotiating additional ewe premia in Brussels, he is seeking to have the rural world premium increased and extended to producers in non-disadvantaged areas; the way he intends to full compensate early lamb producers as lamb prices were down by up to 25p per pound this year and as there is a huge exodus from sheep farming in the lowland areas. [13506/95]

John Browne

Question:

173 Mr. Browne (Wexford) asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he has calculated the income loss of sheep farmers in terms of additional ewe premium compensation; and if he will outline, in terms of pounds per ewe, the amount of money he is seeking to negotiate in Brussels to fully compensate flock owners, taking account of the fact that Irish lamb prices are significantly below the EU average and at unprecedented low levels this year. [13507/95]

Hugh Byrne

Question:

174 Mr. H. Byrne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the weekly price for Irish lamb as reported to the EU for each week since 1 September 1995; the comparative figures for the corresponding period in 1994; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13564/95]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Mr. Yates)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 170, 172, 173 and 174 together.

Official weekly prices for Irish lamb as reported to the EU for each week since 1 September 1995 and the corresponding prices for 1994 are as follows:

1994	1995
W/E	Price P/Kg	W/E	Price P/Kg
4/9	180.384	3/9	168.445
11/9	182.785	10/9	173.327
18/9	179.358	17/9	177.917

Over the past few months my officials and I have made strong representations to Commissioner Fischler and the Commission Services for the introduction of some mechanism to alleviate the situation. At the meeting of the Agriculture Council in June I secured a commitment from the Commission to introduce market management measures to alleviate the current difficulties in the market and, in light of the result of the measures, to consider whether further action is necessary, in particular, as regards the possibility of an upward adjustment in the level of the ewe premium and an acceleration of its payment. The Commission introduced a private storage aid scheme in Ireland in July in fulfilment of this undertaking and the scheme provided additional support for the market.

I raised the matter again at this week's meeting of the Agriculture Council, where I sought additional assistance for the Irish sheepmeat sector. The proposals which I put to the Commissioner included a top-up premium for member states with low prices and the extension of the rural world premium to non-disadvantaged areas in member states with low prices. I intend to persist with my efforts to bring this matter to a successful conclusion.