Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 December 2020
182. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason animals slaughtered in slaughter houses in Northern Ireland are not considered eligible for payment under the beef finishers payment scheme; if they will be made eligible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40525/20]
View answerThe Beef Finisher Payment (BFP) scheme was launched on the 10th August 2020. The aim of the scheme was to provide income support for farmers finishing beef who have been impacted by the economic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. Payments are made based on the data contained on my Department’s Animal Identification and Movements (AIM) system. My Department issued €46.6m to 27,200 farmers under the BFP last month.
The Terms and Conditions of the BFP scheme defines an eligible animals as “those bovine animals identified on AIM on 15th July 2020 as aged eight months or over when presented for slaughter to a slaughtering establishment approved under the European Communities (Food & Feed Hygiene) Regulations (S.I. 22 of 2020) in the period of 1st February 2020 to 12th June inclusive”.
Only those animals slaughtered during the reference period in approved slaughter establishments located in the State can be considered for payment under the scheme. Robust verification of eligibility is essential for audit purposes and the Department's Animal Identification and Movement System provides slaughter data only in respect of Ireland. All live bovine animals that are moved out of Ireland are recorded as ‘Live Exports’ irrespective of the purpose for which they are exported. The status of such exported animals cannot be verified systematically.
In addition, the basis for additional exchequer funding was the market disturbance experienced as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. The R3 Steer price for the reference period relating to the measure was consistently higher in Northern Ireland than in Ireland. Based on these considerations, the BFP was designed to not include animals slaughtered in Northern Ireland.
