Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 161: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason he has yet to introduce a statutory levy agreed by the poultry industry a year ago to Bord Bia for promotion of chicken. [14421/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Bord Bia already operates a Poultry Quality Assurance Scheme which makes a critically important contribution to the marketing and promotion of the product.

I have recently received representations from the poultry industry seeking, inter alia, the introduction of a statutory levy with matching funding from the Exchequer to assist in the continued promotion of chicken. My Department is at present considering relevant legal state aids and other issues, including the scope for poultry promotion, for example through the Bord Bia Quality Assurance Scheme, to which I have already referred.

On the question of additional exchequer funding however such consideration must ultimately have regard to the exigencies of the public finances, and against that background, I will not be in a position to make a further financial contribution to the activities of Bord Bia at this time.

Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 162: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a grant will be introduced for the broiler grower producer who is required to invest in new welfare standards due to an EU directive and who has not been grant-aided for this purpose. [14422/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Poultry Welfare Scheme which was one of the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Schemes under the Rural Development Programme, 2007-2013, provided aid for investment required to meet welfare standards in relation to laying hens. The scheme is now closed. I have no plans at present to introduce grant-aid for broiler growers.