EU to discuss advance payments

THE European Commission has indicated it will immediately bring forward proposals for advance payments to Irish farmers under the 2006 single payment scheme.

These will be discussed by the EU Management Committee on Direct Payments. Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan had sought approval for advance payments from October 16, the start of the new EU financial year, on two specific grounds. One is the cash flow difficulties experienced by farmers, accentuated by the new scheme, where only one payment is made annually, and the other is adverse weather conditions that affected farmers during the summer months.