Vol. 481 No. 1
31 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when he will pay the 1997 cattle headage grants; if he will pay the full amount due rather than a percentage of the total in view of the current depressed prices for cattle and the very wet weather conditions during August and September 1997; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15460/97]
I am pleased to confirm that the full amount due rather than a percentage of the total will be paid under the 1997 cattle headage scheme when these payments start later this week. It is my objective to have all headage applicants deemed eligible by my Department paid as early as possible and to have the maximum number of payments made by the end of October.
32 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the steps, if any, he is taking to reform the existing direct payments scheme to ensure a more equitable distribution of support payments and thereby protect the viability of thousands of small farmers; if he has satisfied himself with the current system whereby more than 70 per cent of farmers receive only 30 per cent of direct payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15506/97]
The conditions governing direct income payments are set down in EU regulations and therefore any changes in these conditions would require a proposal from the EU Commission and the agreement of the Council of Ministers.
The 1992 CAP reform measures which switched the emphasis from market supports to direct payments had the effect of getting support more directly to producers as well as containing a bias in favour of small and medium sized producers. Overall the reform package has been favourable to Irish agriculture.
The agricultural elements of Agenda 2000 largely follow the path of the earlier reform although the detailed aspects will not be presented by the Commission for some time yet. It is my intention, in the forthcoming negotiations on Agenda 2000, to pursue the objective of equity in the direct payments system.
