Johnny Brady
Question:167 Mr. J. Brady asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when he intends to pay the £50 million national beef compensation aid to farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17268/97]
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
I presume that the payment referred to by the Deputy is the national element of the agrimonetary compensation arising from revaluations of the Irish green pound on 8 November 1996, 11 January 1997 and 29 March 1997. This compensation was announced by my predecessor as £50 per head payable on steers and bulls slaughtered and on heifers slaughtered or sold at marts in the period 1 April to 10 June, 1997.
In accordance with EU regulations it is necessary to obtain the Commission's prior approval for all schemes for agrimonetary compensation whether the funding comes from the EU budget or the national Exchequer. On assuming office, I learned that this approval had not been obtained by my predecessor prior to his announcement of the scheme.
The compensation to be paid for cattle disposed of in the period 1 April to 10 June must relate, under EU regulations, to the price reduction arising from the revaluations of the Irish green pound alone, and not from any other factor. The problem of obtaining Commission approval arises from the obvious difficulties in establishing, to the Commission's satisfaction, the amount of the overall price reduction in the relevant period which was due to the revaluations.
As a result of consultations which I have had with Commissioner Fischler, I am hopeful that there will be a satisfactory outcome to this issue in the very near future.