asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he has received any draft of the proposed EEC premium for the production of beef, veal and sheep meat referred to in Article 10 of the EEC directive 2/159 of the 17th April, 1972; if he had meetings with the EEC Commission or with interests in Ireland with regard to the proposals; if he intends to make copies of the draft available to the House; and if he will outline how the proposals are likely to affect existing aids to the production of beef, veal and sheep meat.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Meat Production.
81.
A copy of revised draft proposals in this connection which have been submitted to the council by the EEC Commission was received in my Department very recently. The proposals are currently under examination.
Can the Minister state if these proposals were borne in mind when the recent change was made in the beef incentive scheme?
I understand that the original proposals were rejected by the EEC council and the revised proposals were received by my Department on 7th July and are currently being examined.
Is there any relationship between the change in the beef incentive scheme and any EEC proposals?
Not really. The main idea in the change in the beef incentive scheme was that it was felt that in the case of herd owners of over 30 cows it was not necessary to give them the same kind of support as herd owners under that figure.