P. J. Sheehan
Ceist:29 Mr. Sheehan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason all EC beef support payments are not paid directly to cattle producers, rather than the present system of payments to the meat factories.
Written Answers. - Beef Support Payments.
The EC common organisation of the beef market, which is determined by the Council of Ministers, comprises of direct payments to producers and market support measures.
The suckler cow and special male premium payments are made directly to producers.The market support measures adopted by the Council of Ministers include intervention, aids to private storage and export refunds which are paid directly to the industry. These market support measures have, of course, a major influence on prices paid to cattle producers.
Any alteration of the EC beef regime would require approval by the Council of Ministers.