Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 13 May 2003

Vol. 566 No. 3

Adjournment Debate. - Grant Payments.

Mr. Kirk

I thank the Chair for the opportunity to deal with this matter on the Adjournment. The outbreak of foot and mouth disease which occurred in 2001 has had profound implications for the Cooley Peninsula, which straddles the Border on one side and the sea on the other side. In many ways the agricultural industry and the economy were fortunate in that when we unfortunately had an outbreak of the disease it occurred in a peninsular area. That helped considerably in dealing with and controlling the outbreak of the disease.

I raise this issue because some months ago the Agriculture Commissioner, Franz Fischler, brought forward the mid-term review proposals, which have profound implications for those in the agricultural industry in the Cooley area. Under the proposals the reference years will apply as will the particular year in which the outbreak and subsequent depopulation took place. That means that the basis of the calculations for eligibility for the decoupled payments will be in doubt for farmers in the Cooley area. This is a force majeure position.

I ask the Minister of State, Deputy Aylward, and through him the Department of Agriculture and Food, to take due account of the particular position that obtains for farmers in the Cooley Peninsula in the context of the negotiations on the mid-term review of the Common Agricultural Policy. It is important for the area that the force majeure principle is respected and that the necessary adjustments are made in the calculations to ensure that individual farmers in the Cooley do not lose out in the short and the longer term.

Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture and Food (Mr. Aylward)

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. Under the current Fischler proposals, the decoupled payment is to be based on the average amount paid to the farmer under the various premia schemes for the reference years 2000-02, inclusive. The average amount is determined by taking the three yearly average number of animals and/or arable hectares which attracted payment, multiplying by the premium rate for 2002 – the highest rate under Agenda 2000 – and dividing by the average number of hectares declared on the area aid application over the three-year period. The result is that a certain number of payment entitlements are established. The total number of entitlements will be equal to the average number of hectares in the reference period while the value of each entitlement will be the figure obtained by dividing the average amount determined for the reference period by the average number of hectares.

There is also provision in the proposals for dealing with cases where, because of force majeure or exceptional circumstances occurring before or during the reference period, a farmer's production was adversely affected during the reference period. In such circumstances the farmer is entitled to request that the reference amount be calculated on the basis of the calendar year or years in the reference period not affected by the case of force majeure or exceptional circumstances. If the whole of the reference period was affected, there is provision for calculating the reference amount on the basis of the 1997-99 period.

I am satisfied that these provisions adequately cater for farmers in the Cooley Peninsula who were unfortunately compulsorily depopulated in 2001 because of the outbreak of foot and mouth disease. I am aware of the Deputy's personal interest and concern about this issue. If particular cases were brought to his attention, he should bring these to the attention of the Minister. I am sure that the circumstances I outlined will cover the case generally for farmers in the Cooley Peninsula.