Brian Cowen
Ceist:5 Mr. Cowen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the number of sheep farmers that have received payment under the sheep deal negotiated by him in late 1995. [7837/96]
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Sheep Premium.
Matt Brennan
Ceist:65 Mr. M. Brennan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when the rural world premium will be paid to sheep farmers in non-disadvantaged areas. [7580/96]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 5 and 65 together.
The EU budgetary allocation for the top-up ewe premium to Irish sheep producers in the non-disadvantaged areas, agreed at the December 1995 meeting of EU Agriculture Ministers, has recently been provided. Payment of the premium, however, requires the preparation of specific legislation by the EU Commission. The work on finalising the necessary regulation is in progress, and I have been assured by the Commission that the final document has been presented to the European Parliament and that it will be presented to the Council of Ministers as quickly as possible. I hope that the Council will adopt the proposal without delay, after the opinion of the European Parliament has been received. Payment will then be made.
Am I to take it from the Minister's reply that no sheep farmers have been paid?
That is right. There is a process that must be gone through. This was a concession made to Ireland, not to any other country, and consists of a contribution similar to the rural world premium of about £5.50 per ewe for non-disadvantaged areas. A regulation must be put in place to ensure payment. When that is done, and we have been assured that it will be done as quickly as possible, payment will be made. I hope this payment will be made by June or July. Fortunately, the Deputy will not have to table another Private Members' Motion on sheep farmers for some time. They are doing very well at the moment.
Does the Minister of State agree that, when announcing the package before Christmas, his colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry, gave a very firm indication of a greater degree of immediacy in relation to the £26 million package than has transpired? Will he also agree that, when dealing with crises, whether in beef or sheep, obtaining deals necessitating a six or seven months' delay in payment is not very satisfactory to those awaiting such payments?
Some time the Deputy may understand the processes through which such a decision must go within the European Parliament, when he will readily appreciate what is involved. For example, legislation will have to be framed to make this very special contribution to Ireland — very hard won by the Minister at the time — which will be made as soon as possible. I have no doubt farmers will welcome this special premium when they receive it.
They will have forgotten what it was all about by then.
It may be a case of "live horse and you will get grass".
Under Fianna Fáil Ministers there was no grass.
While I hope that will not be the case, I acknowledge that sheep farmers are doing reasonably well consequent on the difficulties experienced by beef farmers.
I raised this matter this morning and reiterate my request to the Minister to intervene in respect of the 3,000 sheep at Rosslare, sold to the French market, which cannot be exported because of an agreement reached between the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry and the ferry companies which allows four trailer loads only of live animals to be exported——
I want to help the Deputy in respect of his problem but clearly it is not relevant now. This is quite an extension of the subject matter of this question which asked the number of sheep farmers that have received payment under the sheep deal negotiated by the Minister in late 1995. I would much prefer the Deputy to deal with the matter in a more formal way.
A Cheann Comhairle, you told me this morning I should seek another way.
Yes, I did.
On the Adjournment.