Agreement Reached On Advance Payment Of 2008 Single Payment

The Junior Agriculture Minister paid tribute to his colleague Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Brendan Smith TD who has repeatedly pressed the case for an advance payment of the 2008 Single Payment.

According to the Clare T.D., ‘Minister Smith this week met the EU Agriculture Commissioner, Mariann Fischer Boel at a Council of EU Agriculture Ministers meeting in Annecy, France. This approach to the Agriculture Commissioner to advance 50 per cent of the payment was prompted by the very wet summer, which seriously affected farming in Ireland.’

‘I am delighted at the positive response of the EU Commissioner and Brussels to Minister Smith’s request. The Department can now commence payment of 50 per cent of the 2008 Single Payment Scheme in all cleared cases with effect from 16 October, with the balancing payments being made from 1st December’, added Minister Killeen.

He stated that these payments and the payments under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, which have commenced this week, would inject in excess of EUR750 million into the Irish rural economy in the coming weeks.

‘These payments will provide a very welcome boost for County Clare’s farm families, particularly at this time of the year’, concluded Minister Killeen.

-ENDS-

Notes to Editor:
- Tony Killeen T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (with special responsibility for Fisheries and Forestry), is available for interview and further comment on 0035387-2525304. Alternatively please contact Mark Dunphy of Dunphy Public Relations on 00353868534900 or media@dunphypr.com
- High-resolution images of Minister Killeen are available

Mark Dunphy
Dunphy Public Relations
www.dunphypr.com
media@dunphypr.com
00353-868534900