Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 444: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if his attention has been drawn to the adverse impact on Connemara sheep farmers regarding the application of the Habitats Directive and specifically the categorisation of ewe lambs over nine months as hoggets and the obligation to have these disposed of by 1 January 2009 regardless of market circumstances; if he will review this particular aspect of the agreement between farmers, the National Parks and Wildlife Service and his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38463/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The implementation of the Habitats Directive is a matter, in the first instance, for the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

Agreement was reached between the NPWS and the farm bodies on additional measures to reduce the grazing pressure on the Twelve Bens/Garraun Complex and Maumturk Mountains Special Areas of Conservation (SACs). The objective of this agreement, for which NPWS are making additional payments to farmers, is to establish a sustainable grazing regime to allow for regeneration of overgrazed areas which, in turn, will satisfy the European Commission that a judgement of the European Court of Justice against Ireland is being fully respected.

Lambs born in the previous year were classified as hoggets from the commencement of the following calendar year for the purpose of drawing down ewe premium. I understand that the NPWS have no plans to revisit the terms of the agreement or the methodology of calculating the destocking requirement.