Vol. 539 No. 1
64 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if his Department has provided funding to compensate mart owners and other such businesses which were closed by the order of his Department as a result of the foot and mouth crisis; if he will provide an interest subsidy to support the industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18820/01]
The closure of the marts, in common with many other measures, was considered necessary in the context of foot and mouth disease to safeguard the future of the agri-food industry. While difficulties were experienced by all sectors of society affected by the control measures adopted in recent months, it is clear that had such measures not been taken, the consequences would have been far worse for all concerned and for the economy in general.
In these circumstances I do not have any proposals to compensate the owners of marts or other businesses affected by the FMD controls. Such compensation would place an intolerable burden on the taxpayer and on the economy and would, in any event, be unmanageable. It has been and remains the policy of this Government to provide the correct economic framework to allow business, including agri-business, to thrive. To date this has been a singularly successful approach to encouraging economic development and I am confident that it remains the correct approach to encouraging recovery in all sectors affected by the foot and mouth crisis.
