Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 9 Jun 1998

Vol. 492 No. 1

Written Answers. - Extensification Premium.

Michael Ferris

Question:

31 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the progress, if any, made to date on securing agreement from the EU Commission for the payment of extensification grants on sheep in view of the fact that sheep are included in the livestock counted for stocking density purposes and are not at present eligible for extensification payments. [13468/98]

Paul Connaughton

Question:

73 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the progress, if any, made with the European Union to have extensification premium paid to sheep farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13330/98]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

I propose to reply to Questions Nos. 31 and 73 together.

I have considerable sympathy with the case made by sheep producers that, although ewes are counted in the calculation of eligibility for the extensification premium, they are not eligible for the premium itself. I have made strong representations to the Commission for the introduction of an extensification premium in the sheepmeat sector. However, the Commission has not accepted such a proposal on the grounds that the rural world premium, which was introduced in the context of the 1992 CAP reform package, is of major benefit to the majority of extensive producers in the Union. Neither has it agreed to the exclusion of sheep from the calculation of stocking density for the extensification premium. The Commission argues that to do so would introduce a new inequity between beef producers who also rear sheep and producers who rear cattle only.

I intend to continue to press the Commission on this matter in the context of the discussions on Agenda 2000.