Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 211: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the position in relation to the payment of the 2004 headage payment, suckler cow payment and extensification payment for a person (details supplied) in county Wicklow; if these payments will be awarded as speedily as possible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18808/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The area aid unit wrote to the person named with regard to problems that arose while processing his 2004 area aid application. The Department sought maps and evidence to entitlement to commonage areas being claimed on his area aid application. There has been no reply from the person named to date. On receipt of a reply from the person named, the area aid unit will process his 2004 area aid application without delay and any payments due to him will be made in due course, provided he has complied with the conditions of the schemes for which he applied.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 212: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if her attention has been drawn to the potential loss of up to €80 million due to Irish farmers arising from special beef premium payments with particular reference to commitments given by the then EU Agricultural Commissioner, Mr. Franz Fischler, to the effect that no country or individual farmer would lose out from the changeover to full decoupling; if her further attention has been drawn to the fact that arising from indications to date, losses of between €50 and €80 per animal are likely with obvious negative consequences; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18837/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I am fully aware of the impact that the overshoot reduction will have on beef farmers who claimed on more than 25 animals. The decision to opt for full decoupling was arrived at following careful consideration of all options and following a widespread public consultation process. A very persuasive factor in this process was the suggestion that farmers in those member states which fully decoupled would not be disadvantaged during the transitional period. The level of the overshoot of the regional ceiling is attributable to the ending of the special beef premium scheme in 2004 and application patterns both in terms of total numbers of animals applied upon and the timing of lodging of applications, strongly suggest this to be the case.

I am actively seeking a solution to this issue and will continue to do so with the European Commissioner and her officials. I have already raised the issue with the Commissioner on a number of occasions during various meetings. My Department also forwarded a detailed submission to the European Commission dealing with this matter on 25 April 2005. The matter has been discussed with the Commissioner's cabinet and with the most senior officials of the European Commission. Arrangements are currently at an advanced stage for a meeting between my officials and the various services of the Commission's DG Agriculture.

I am availing of every opportunity to press for appropriate measures to be put in place to alleviate the difficulties encountered by beef farmers in Ireland as a result of the ending of the special beef premium in 2004. I will continue to pursue the matter with the Agriculture Commissioner and Commission officials.

Paddy McHugh (Galway East, Independent)
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Question 213: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason [i]force majeure[/i] and exceptional circumstances were not granted to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; if a more lenient view will be taken when this appeal is being considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18868/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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An application for consideration under the force majeure-exceptional circumstances measure of the single payment regulations was submitted by the person named on 17 February 2004. Following consideration by my Department and the independent single payment appeals committee of the circumstances outlined, including additional information submitted, my Department is satisfied that force majeure can be applied in respect of disease outbreaks which resulted in decreased production in 2002. Consequently, the year 2002 will be excluded and only the years 2000 and 2001 will be used in the calculation of the single payment entitlement. The person named was notified of this decision and an amended statement of provisional entitlements reflecting this position has been issued.