EU-Irish concession nearly halves SBP overshoot impact
The additional funding will be shared by the EU and the Irish exchequer, following a successful request by Agriculture and Food Minister Mary Coughlan to EU Commissioner Fischer Boel for assistance to deal with the overshoot of the Special Beef Premium quota in Ireland.
However, due to a legally binding ceiling of 1,077,458 animals in the Irish Special Beef Premium Scheme, the European Commission has made no concession for First Age Category applicants.
But Minister Coughlan said their overshoot cut had already been nearly cancelled out by additional payments of more than €36 million, for nearly €740,000 more bulls submitted for Premium in 2004, compared to the previous three-year average, each qualifying for €60 more than steers.
Minister Coughlan said there will also be additional payments of about €8 million when the quota overshoot is finally calculated, including €4.6 million for farmers who claimed between 26 and 34 animals.
She said the Commissioner’s offer is unprecedented for schemes covered by ceilings or quotas, and thanked her and her officials.
IFA National Livestock Chairman John Bryan said the package will help alleviate financial losses, and the Irish Cattle and Sheepfarmers Association said it was “the best possible deal”
But the average beef producer will see an unacceptable 37% cut in income, said Fine Gael Agriculture Spokesperson, Denis Naughten.
