Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 September 2004
230 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if a decision on a person (details supplied) will be made to ensure he receives the ten month special beef premium; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21220/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the EU regulations, advance payments under the special beef premium scheme cannot issue before 16 October 2004.
Under the 2004 EU special beef premium scheme the person named has to date lodged one application in respect of six animals. It is a basic requirement of the special beef premium scheme that all animals are held for the regulatory two month retention period and applicants are advised, in writing, in respect of each application lodged when the particular retention period expires and the first date on which animals may be sold. In this case the first date on which these animals could be sold was 19 April 2004.
Following computer validation of this application it transpired that one animal applied on was sold on 17 April 2004, before expiry of the regulatory two month retention period, and in accordance with the terms and conditions of the scheme the animal in question must be rejected, namely no premium will be paid in respect of this animal and a reduction penalty applied to the premium in respect of the other animals concerned.
However, in support of an appeal to the Agriculture Appeals Office the person named has supplied medical evidence showing that at that time normal farming duties were prevented by illness. Accordingly, rather than being rejected the animal in question will be deleted from the application and counted for stocking density purposes, which means that while no payment will issue, as the animal was not retained for the regulatory retention period, no further penalty will apply. Therefore, the person named will receive full payment in respect of the five animals which fully complied with the scheme's terms and conditions.
