Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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253. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if section 9.2 of the terms and conditions of the beef exceptional aid measure can be changed to ensure that the immediate previous owner of an animal presented for slaughter within 30 days of it being purchased will receive the €100 payment regardless of whether the person who purchased the animal was an agent, dealer or farmer; his views on whether the terms and conditions are fair in circumstances in which an animal can be purchased and killed from a farm herd number within 30 days of it being purchased and the new owner can receive the €100 payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51966/19]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The objective of the BEAM measure is to provide temporary exceptional adjustment aid to farmers in the beef sector in Ireland subject to the conditions set out in EU Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1132.

Section 9.2 of the terms and conditions of the beef exceptional aid measure state that 'Where an (eligible) animal (under 9.1.1) has been presented for slaughter by an agent or by a dealer within 30 days of purchase, including those purchased in the mart, payment may issue to the immediate previous herdowner or in respect of the previous eligible herd number, where that herdowner is an applicant.

This is expressly designed to try to ensure that the farmer who raised or finished the animal is the one that get the payment. As the scheme has launched and is operational, it is not possible at this juncture to amend any of the terms and conditions. However, an appeals mechanism was made available to applicants through the scheme and this is the appropriate means of clarifying any questions around eligibility.