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The Government has been accused of providing misleading messages to farmers about the €100m beef compensation package.
Fianna Fáil spokesperson on agriculture Charlie McConalogue said An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed had informed farmers at every juncture that the fund was to cover income losses incurred as a result of Brexit.
Production reduction
The draft Commission regulation states that the "measures taken by Ireland shall be aimed at reducing production or restructuring the beef and veal sector".
McConalogue called on Minister Creed to clarify when he first became aware that the €50m provided by the European Commission would be contingent on production reduction.
In response to a parliamentary question from McConalogue, Minister Creed said the terms of the draft Commission regulations were not for negotiation with Ireland or other EU countries. Ireland will be invited to give an opinion on the terms of the fund.
Minister Creed said further details on the aid package would be announced in “due course following the appropriate stakeholder consultation”.
"Cop out"
McConalogue accused the Minister of washing his hands of any responsibility and branded his response as “a cop out”.
“Interestingly, the draft text says that the Ireland does not qualify under Article 219 of the CAP CMO regulation which provides emergency funding for market disturbance caused by significant price rises or falls. Did his [Minister Creed] Department make any case for market disturbance aid as provided under the CAP?"
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