Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2017
1359. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the CAP market support measures available at EU level for producers under Article 221 of CAP Regulation (EU) No. 1308/2013. [38469/17]
View answerArticle 221 of CAP Regulation No 1308/2013 provides for the Commission to adopt implementing acts to introduce necessary and emergency measures to resolve specific problems. However, these emergency measures under Article 221 will only be adopted by the Commission in the event that required emergency measures under Articles 219 (measures against market disturbance) or 220 (measures concerning animal diseases and loss of consumer confidence due to public, animal or plant health risks) cannot be adopted.
Emergency measures were introduced by the Commission in accordance with Articles 219 and 220 of 1308/2013 in recent years in direct response to the market difficulties being experienced by farmers and producers during this time. Such measures included exceptional adjustment aid to milk producers and farmers in other livestock sectors, with €350 million in emergency funding allocated to Member States. Ireland's allocation of €11.1 million from this fund (topped up by 100% national funding) was used to leverage a greater fund of €150 million to provide low-cost loans to the livestock and tillage sectors.
To date, emergency measures in accordance with Article 221 of Regulation 1308/2013 have not been introduced by the European Commission. This does not however, prejudice the use of this article in the future should the need arise.
