Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 November 2015
109. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide clarification regarding additional top-up moneys from the Exchequer to boost the €13.7 million European Union crisis fund; if he will dispense the funds to enable viability to those engaged in farming regarded as vulnerable who have endured dramatic income losses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39872/15]
View answerThe relevant EU legislative provisions providing for this direct aid payment came into force in the last number of weeks and provide that Member States have the flexibility to distribute this aid through the most effective channels at their disposal. It is a clear requirement of the provisions regarding this aid that the funds need to be distributed on the basis of objective and non-discriminatory criteria and also needs to ensure that farmers in the relevant sectors are the ultimate beneficiaries of the targeted aid.
I have discussed these matters with representatives of the dairy sector, most recently at the dairy forum on 29th September. I took the opportunity to update stakeholders regarding progress to date and to seek their opinions regarding how best to distribute this aid. Any decision on distribution obviously had to await the adoption at EU level of the relevant legislative provisions.
In addition my Department also has had discussions with representatives of the Irish pig sector. I am currently considering various options and intend to announce final decisions regarding the aid levels and mechanisms in the very near future.
