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

The objective of the beef exceptional aid measure, BEAM, is to provide temporary exceptional adjustment aid to farmers in the beef sector in Ireland subject to the conditions set out in European Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1132. BEAM is funded by a combination of EU aid and Exchequer support provided in light of the difficult circumstances that Irish beef farmers have been facing as a result of market volatility and uncertainty.

Applications for BEAM were accepted from 19 August until 20 September of this year. In total, 34,517 applications were received, with a potential total payment of €78,192,380. Arrangements for the processing of these applications are in place in order to ensure the timely issuing of payments under the measure in December of this year at the latest.

Payments in respect of the beef environmental efficiency pilot, BEEP, are expected to issue in December of this year. The value of all approved applications is just over €19 million.

There have been a series of formal negotiations with beef sector stakeholders since early August, facilitated by my Department and culminating in an agreement being reached between stakeholders on Sunday, 15 September. The full text of that agreement is available on my Department's website. The agreement involves a number of interventions which will provide immediate benefit for beef producers, as well as a range of strategic measures which seek to address structural imbalances in the sector. Beef producers will benefit from an immediate increase in a range of bonuses. This will increase the level of bonus being paid on certain animals, as well as significantly increasing the number of animals which are eligible for a bonus. The cumulative effect is that over 70% of all steer and heifers slaughtered will now be eligible for a bonus on top of the base price paid. A number of actions in the area of market transparency, beef promotion and strengthening the position of the farmer in the supply chain are included in the agreement. These measures set a course towards greater clarity for all stakeholders involved in the beef supply chain, primarily farmers.

My Department is also proactively engaging with several potential beef producer organisations which have the potential to strengthen the bargaining power of beef farmers in the supply chain. Two beef producer organisations have been formally recognised by my Department in recent weeks.

I have established a beef market task force to provide the leadership to develop a sustainable pathway for the future of the beef sector in terms of economic, environmental and social sustainability. The task force will provide a robust implementation structure for commitments entered into in the agreement, with timelines and stakeholder engagement. Furthermore, the beef market task force will offer a suitable platform for strategic engagement with key stakeholders, including retailers and regulatory authorities.

I have appointed Michael Dowling as independent chair of the task force, and its membership includes representatives from my Department, relevant State agencies, farm organisations and the meat industry.

See this speech in context