Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 June 2004
158 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason a ewe premium grant has still not been awarded to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17308/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has had no communication from the person named since my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 137 of 11 May, 2004 regarding payment under the 2003 ewe premium scheme. The position remains that as the person named failed to satisfy my Department that he had the number of sheep he applied on in his ownership and possession for the retention period he cannot be paid 2003 ewe premium according to the relevant EU regulations. The issue of proof submitted in respect of the sale of ewes between the date of application on 6 January 2003 and the date of inspection on 17 December 2003 has been re-examined. Despatch dockets dated 30 April 2003 were submitted in respect of 56 animals. The applicant has stated, however, that these were not sold but taken home again. These dockets do not help to explain the missing 34 ewes.
A despatch docket dated 13 October 2003 was submitted in respect of 50 animals. Had the applicant been able to produce a flock register it could have been cross checked to verify whether or not these 50 animals were ewes. The applicant's son had stated at inspection that the flock register had been sent to my Department's district livestock office in Galway via Mountbellew post office but he has no receipt from the post office to prove posting and the register was not received in the district livestock office.
If the person named produces evidence that the 50 animals despatched on 13 October 2003 were sold and were ewes, my Department will be happy to consider such evidence on its merits and review this case accordingly.
