A PROPOSED change in the threshold for the EU's beef deseasonalisation premium would exclude Ireland from participation in the scheme, the Fine Gael MEP, Mr Alan Gillis, has said.
Speaking in the debate on the 1996 agricultural prices, Mr Gillis welcomed the fact that the whole of Ireland was being included in the scheme.
But, he said, both parts of the country would be effectively excluded by the threshold being suggested.
The Commission is proposing that the premium, which aims to spread the pre winter peak in cattle slaughter over the whole year, take effect when a 38 per cent slaughter level has been reached. Separate Irish amendments, to be voted on today, would reduce the threshold to 35 and 32 per cent respectively.
The same debate heard criticism of the CAP for its alleged subsidisation of bullfighting in Spain.
British Labour MEP Mr Simon Murphy told the parliament that 30,000 bulls were killed in Spanish bullfights every year, each of them qualifying for a CAP premium of £100 a head.
"It is a disgrace that the European Commission has failed to tackle this abuse, despite persistent pressure to do so," he said.