Vol. 468 No. 4
858 Mr. Cowen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he has decided to appeal the decision of the EU Commissioner of the fine in respect of irregularities in the beef sector; if he will outline in detail the basis of that decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15374/96]
Having obtained legal advice from counsel and the Attorney General, the Government took a decision to appeal to the European Court of Justice against a Commission decision on the clearance of the 1992 EAGGF Guarantee accounts, in so far as it refused financing of £50.285 million in respect of beef public storage expenditure in the years 1990 and 1991 and of £18.475 million in respect of "multiple tendering" in the years 1991 and 1992. The appeal was lodged in the European Court on 10 July 1996.
