Joe Walsh
Question:106 Mr. J. Walsh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the plans, if any, he has to maintain the beef slaughter premium at its current level in view of the sharp drop in cattle prices. [9438/97]
Written Answers. - Beef Slaughter Premium.
Rory O'Hanlon
Question:119 Dr. O'Hanlon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he will postpone the reduction of the rate of payment of the slaughter premium in view of the serious reduction in the price of beef; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9491/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 106 and 119 together.
The deseasonalisation premium was introduced under the CAP reform measures of 1992 to assist in overcoming the seasonal pattern of steer slaughterings in Ireland. The conditions governing the scheme are set down in Council Regulation 805/68 and Commission Regulation 3886/92, as amended.
As originally adopted, the EU regulation provided for a flat-rate payment on steers slaughtered between 1 January and 30 April. However, in order to avoid the bulking of slaughtering at the end of April, the European Union amended the regulation from 1995 to provide for a gradual reduction in the premium over a longer period as follows:
|
Week 1 to week 15 |
72.45 ECUs (£60.09) |
|
Week 16 and week 17 |
54.34 ECUs (£45.07) |
|
Week 18 to week 21 |
36.23 ECUs (£30.05) |
|
Week 22 and week 23 |
18.11 ECUs (£15.02) |
I should point out that I succeeded in having the trigger level reduced from 40 per cent to 35 per cent to allow for the continuation of the scheme this year and subsequent years. This was a very important concession which is worth some £20 million to Irish producers, particularly winter finishers, this spring.
Any postponement in the rate of reduction in the premium would require an amendment to the Council Regulation and, in view of the procedure involved, such an amendment could not be achieved, certainly in the short-term.