Vol. 504 No. 7
184 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many farmers are unable to sell or lease their cow suckler quota; if, due to the end of May deadline, the non-used quota will become part of the national reserve quota; and if he will recognise the difficult year experienced by many farmers and introduce favourable concessions in this scheme. [13028/99]
Under EU regulations, farmers holding suckler cow quotas greater than seven are required to use at least 90 per cent of the quota every year, otherwise the part not used will be forfeited and returned to the national reserve. Farmers holding quotas of seven or less are required to use at least 90 per cent of the quota in any one of two consecutive years, otherwise the part not used in the second year will be forfeited and returned to the national reserve. As these rules are prescribed in the EU regulations, I have no discretion in their implementation nor can I introduce any concessionary measures in contravention of those rules.
I announced recently that there will be a second application period for the 1999 suckler cow premium scheme in October next. This means that farmers who have not sold or leased their quotas during the May trading period will have an opportunity to do so in October. Quota that cannot be sold or leased during either trading period will revert to the national reserve and will be distributed from the year 2000 national reserve to eligible farmers who apply for, and require additional quota, in the year 2000.
185 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will reduce the retention period from six months to four months for cow sucklers due to the bad weather conditions and consequential fodder losses. [13030/99]
The requirement for retention periods during which animals applied on under the various EU headage and premium schemes must be held and maintained by the applicant is an integral part of each scheme and is set out in EU regulations. In the case of cattle headage-beef cow and suckler cow premium schemes the regulations allow for animals applied on to be replaced by other eligible animals during the retention period. Retention periods serve to ensure that beneficiaries under the schemes are genuine farmers who normally maintain livestock on an ongoing basis.
Different retention periods apply under the different schemes ranging from two months in the case of cattle headage, sheep headage and special beef premium to six months in the case of suckler cow premium. The longer retention period for the suckler cow premium reflects the fact that these animals are in fact the main breeding stock and are not normally disposed of except in the case of normal stock replacement. The shorter retention period for special beef premium reflects the fact that these animals form part of a producers trading stock.
The retention period for the suckler cow premium scheme is set out in a Council regulation and any variation of the period would therefore require the agreement of the Council of Ministers. Any such change would have to be proposed by the EU Commission.
