Vol. 503 No. 7
77 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the measures put in place to address some of the difficulties that the farming community are experiencing; if he has satisfied himself that the supports in place are adequate to enhance and develop the industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10906/99]
I have introduced a range of measures to alleviate the difficulties which some sectors of agriculture faced over the past year as a result of inclement weather and the loss of international markets.
These included: arranging for speedy payment of over £1,038 million in respect of headage, premia and other direct income payments to farmers in 1998; achieving substantially increased export refunds for beef; gaining increased and improved access to beef intervention; approving additional facilities for live exports of cattle; successfully negotiating substantial increases in the amounts of export refunds for pigmeat; providing over £40 million towards alleviation of fodder difficulties; introduction of the farm assist scheme to provide income supplements to farmers on low incomes; successfully negotiating a substantially improved position for Irish farmers under the Agenda 2000 in which a potential loss of £1,386 million over the seven year period 2000 to 2006 was converted to an estimated gain of £395 million.
These measures substantially reduced the hardship which would otherwise have been faced by farmers. The Agenda 2000 agreement will provide a solid basis for the development of the agri-food sector in the years ahead but I will, of course, continue to monitor the situation carefully and will take whatever further actions are appropriate.
