Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputies for raising this matter. The beef exceptional aid measure, BEAM, was approved by the European Commission. Like all measures under the Common Market organisation, CMO, regulation, it comes with specific terms and conditions. We were faced with a requirement at EU level to have a supply reduction element attached to the terms of the scheme. We felt it was best to approach this by way of a reduction in organic nitrates rather than, as portrayed by the Deputies, a simple head count reduction. This allowed for on-farm individualised management of organic nitrates rather than a head count reduction, which, I think, is the most efficient way for farms to benefit under the scheme without being obliged to reduce their herd size. For example, they can manage this by way of selling stock earlier or buying in stock later in order that their organic nitrates load matches the required reduction of 5% over the referred period.

With regard to the requirement that applicants be in an environmental scheme, the criterion is participation in an environmental scheme or a quality assurance scheme. Bord Bia has confirmed that it will accept participation in any quality assurance scheme to enable people to be eligible under the terms of the scheme.

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