Michael Ring
Question:88 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food her plans to decrease the animal disease levies as committed to during negotiations on Sustaining Progress. [24948/04]
View answerDáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 October 2004
88 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food her plans to decrease the animal disease levies as committed to during negotiations on Sustaining Progress. [24948/04]
View answerThe Sustaining Progress agreement, which was concluded in 2003, provided for the bovine disease levies to be reviewed from 1 January 2004 in light of possible efficiencies in the tuberculosis and brucellosis disease eradication schemes. Following a review of expenditure on these schemes in 2003 and in anticipation of a reduction in the cost of compensation arising from improved disease levels in 2004, the disease levies were reduced by 25% from 1 January 2004. The disease levies will be reviewed again in the context of the Estimates for 2005.