Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

377. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reasons specialist heifer feeders were excluded from the beef premium payments system; if he has considered a form of redress system for these farmers as a consequence of them only receiving a relatively small single farm payment or none at all; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48223/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The EU Regulations governing the Special Beef Premium Scheme defined the animals eligible under the Scheme i.e. bulls and bullocks. Generally, the Single Payment Scheme is applicable to farmers who actively farmed during all or any of the three reference years 2000, 2001 and 2002, who were paid Livestock Premia and/or Arable Aid payments in one or more of those years and by whom Single Payment entitlements were, therefore, established. Other farmers, including new entrants to farming since the reference period, are also eligible for the Single Payment Scheme where they have received entitlements from the National Reserve, or by way of a transfer i.e. purchase or lease.