Paul McGrath
Question:32 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the response he has received from the EU Commission with respect to the beef overshoot; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13920/03]
Written Answers. - Special Beef Premium.
My Department has made a very strong case to the European Commission outlining specific proposals to deal with the overshoot on the Special Beef Premium in respect of 2002. The main justification put forward for special treatment of Ireland's overshoot was the fact that the early publication of a confidential draft legal text of the Commission proposals for the mid-term review gave rise to a surge of applications submitted to my Department in late December 2002 which contributed to the scale of the overshoot.
The Commission, in its reply, acknowledges the exceptional circumstances leading to the overshoot in 2002 and specifically the impact that the leaking of these proposals had on the scale of the overshoot. It goes on to state that it is not ready to propose a derogation from the Council regulation while this issue is part of the current discussion on the reform proposals in the Council.
I am satisfied that the Commission implicitly acknowledges that this matter may be further considered in the context of the mid-term review negotiations and I will now take this matter up direct with Commissioner Fischler.