151 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the plans, if any, he has to increase the quota rights of sheep farmers who have low lying land to compensate them for being excluded from payments under the 1998 ewe supplementary measure. [24565/98]
Farmers with lowland only and who, therefore, do not qualify for the ewe supplementary measure 1998 may acquire extra sheep quota through the normal channels, that is, by purchase, lease or from the national reserve provided they meet the qualifying criteria. All such transactions must be completed before the date on which the farmer concerned submits an application for 1999 ewe premium-sheep headage the closing date for which is 8 January 1999.
