§ Mr. Ieuan Wyn JonesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to press the European Union for similar aid packages for United Kingdom sheep producers to those recently awarded to the Republic of Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [17780]
§ Mrs. BrowningNo. As yet, no aid package has been awarded to the Republic of Ireland. My right hon. and learned Friend the Minister made it clear at the Agriculture Council last December that we saw no justification for the special treatment which Ireland was seeking: responding to a weak market situation by granting special aid gives the wrong signals to producers.
The statement agreed at that meeting of the Council makes it clear that the extension of the less favoured areas supplement to the whole of Ireland—that is, including Northern Ireland—will be proposed by the Commission only if there are sufficient funds in the budget to accommodate the resultant payments.
Given the close relationship between sheepmeat production in Northern Ireland and in the Irish Republic, it is right that any special aid granted to producers in the republic should be available also to those in Northern Ireland.