Minister Killeen Confirms Publication Of Certain Details Of EU Payments

PRLog (Press Release) - Sep 02, 2008 -
The Clare T.D. pointed out that the requirement to publish these details is directly applicable and mandatory in all EU Member States.  The details that will be published include the beneficiaries’ name, their partial address and payments funded or co-funded by the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) or the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD).

Minister Killeen added that under the terms of an EU Council Regulation, his Department was obliged to publish data relating to payments made under the Early Retirement Scheme, Rural Environmental Protection Scheme (REPS) and compensatory Allowances in Less Favoured Areas by 30th September.  

The Minister said that the information being published at this time would relate to payments made between 1st January 2007 and 15th October 2007.

Minister of State Killeen stated that his Department would be publishing certain details before the end of April 2009 of payments made under the Farm Improvement and Young Farmers’ Installation Aid Schemes as well as Single Farm Payments.  These details would relate to payments made between 16th October 2007 and 15th October 2008.

‘These publication rules apply to beneficiaries of all EU funds, including the Structural and Cohesion Funds, and not just to CAP beneficiaries, and are part of a general initiative by the EU to improve transparency and accountability. Such details are already published in many Member States’, continued the local IFA member.

He explained that the requirement to publish these details should be seen against the negotiation by the Government of an EU-funded CAP package of approximately €12 billion for the Irish Agri-Food sector for the period 2007-2013.

‘It is important to note that all information being published related to historical payments made at least six months prior to publication. I would also urge those farmers who had not yet submitted their bank details to the Department to do so as soon as possible given that, with effect from 16th October next, all CAP payments will be made only by electronic transfer to bank, building society, credit union or post office accounts.  Failure to submit the relevant details may result in payments being delayed’, concluded Minster of State Killeen.

-ENDS-

Mark Dunphy
Dunphy Public Relations
www.dunphypr.com
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