Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 20 Sep 1995

Vol. 455 No. 8

Written Answers. - Beef Slaughter Premium Scheme.

Brian Cowen

Ceist:

347 Mr. Cowen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the consideration, if any, he is giving to the possibility of a year round slaughter premium for beef heifers as requested by dry stock farmers in a recent meeting with him. [12854/95]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Mr. Yates)

As the Deputy will be aware, the EU beef regime has traditionally focused its support, through the intervention system, on male cattle. Accordingly, when the regime was reformed in 1992 beef producers were compensated for the restrictions introduced on intervention by way of a substantial increase in the special beef premium which is confined to male cattle.

The current cattle premium system is extremely beneficial to the Irish beef industry overall and I am anxious to avoid re-opening the 1992 Reform Package because of the risk that other Member States would avail of the opportunity to attempt to clawback some of the advantages enjoyed by Irish producers. However, a number of aspects of the current regime will come up for review over the next year and I will keep the proposal for a slaughter premium for beef heifers in mind at that stage.