|
The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Mary Coughlan
T.D. - in discussions in Brussels with Commissioner Fischer
Boel - obtained the Commissioner's agreement that Ireland
could continue as before in paying REPS 2 and REPS 3 participants
at the beginning of each contract year.
Welcoming the Commissioner's decision, Minister Coughlan
said - "I am very grateful to Commissioner
Fischer Boel for her personal intervention to resolve an extremely
difficult situation. I had emphasised to her the seriousness
with which I viewed the matter and the risk of damaging Irish
farmers' confidence in a popular and extremely successful
scheme, which has delivered real benefits to society as a
whole in terms of landscape, biodiversity and water quality."
The Minister added that she had directed her officials
to take immediate steps to release REPS 2 and REPS 3 payments
which had been on hold since early January.
Commissioner Fischer Boel stated that she had no objection
to Ireland continuing to receive REPS payment claims and make
payments as has been done in the past, until the expiry of
REPS 2 and REPS 3 contracts.
Discussions also took place at official level on the interpretation
of the new Commission regulations governing payments under
REPS 4.
|
