Michael Ring
Question:200 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the plans, if any, he has to lift or reduce the retention period of six months on suckler cows. [18600/98]
Written Answers. - Suckler Cow Premium.
The retention period under the suckler cow premium scheme is set out in a Council Regulation. Producers who lodged their suckler cow applications in early May will have completed the retention period in early November. Varying the retention period, even on a once-off basis for 1998, would require the agreement of the Council of Agriculture Ministers. In the unlikely event that such agreement would be forthcoming it would involve a lengthy process involving the Commission making such a proposal to the Council. Effectively therefore, any such agreement would not be obtained in time to benefit any reasonable number of producers this year.
The recent decision of the Beef Management Committee to increase the rate of advance of the cattle premiums including the suckler cow premium, together with the fodder package which I announced last week, should improve the cash flow of producers and, accordingly, makes it less necessary to reduce the retention period for the suckler cow premium.