Vol. 511 No. 6
206 Mr. Boylan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if a person (details supplied) in County Cavan will be compensated for animals slaughtered on 12 January 1999 knowing that he did not qualify for the 22 month premium until after that date; his views on whether he has been unfairly penalised in view of the depressed state of farming; and if this decision will be reviewed. [24957/99]
The person named applied for special beef premium on 24 animals on 6 January 1999. Three of the animals were ineligible for 22 month premium as they did not reach age of eligibility for premium until 15, 18 and 20 January 1999 respectively. All animals were slaughtered under the BSE depopulation scheme on 12 January 1999, and compensation based on the market value at time of slaughter of the animals issued to the herdowner. Under the EU regulations governing the special beef premium scheme animals do not qualify for payment until they have reached the age of eligibility. Therefore three of the 24 animals did not qualify for 22 month premium. Payment is currently being processed on the remaining 21 animals. These 21 animals have been excused the two month retention period requirement for special beef premium applications on the grounds of force majeure, that is, circumstances that are unforeseen, unavoidable and outside the producer's control such as slaughter under the disease eradication schemes.
