Jack Wall
Question:326 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the position regarding the application for a REP scheme payment by a person (details supplied) in County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20827/03]
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
Processing of this application will be finalised in the next three weeks. As previously indicated to the person named, there is an issue relating to one area included in his REPS plan which appears to be ineligible for payment. He will be informed directly of the position when processing of the application is complete.
Jim O'Keeffe
Question:327 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if his attention has been drawn to concerns expressed by farmers who sell calves and weanlings that they will suffer huge losses arising from decoupling of direct payments due to no account being taken of the fact that premium payments were reflected and factored in to the prices obtained by them during the reference years, rather than by way of direct payment to them; and if he has proposals to remedy this anomaly under the new regime. [20828/03]
Following the Luxembourg agreement on the mid-term review of the Common Agricultural Policy, I invited all interest groups to submit their written views on its implementation. I have received submissions from various groups who have expressed different views relating to decoupling of certain beef premia. Having examined these views I intend to make a decision on the matter within the coming weeks.
In relation to the single payment process under decoupling it should be borne in mind that within this payment are the beef premia that were previously directly paid to producers. Under the current support regime the potential future value of premia was capitalised into the sale value of calves and weanlings.
The export of live animals that are principally calves and weanlings will continue to benefit from the slaughter premium in the EU country of import where that country has retained a coupled slaughtered premium.