The Department of Agriculture and Food has defended its action in seeking earlier and bigger EU payouts of €510 million to farmers this year to help them cope with poor summer conditions and with their incomes.
A spokesman for the department said that it had sought permission for a higher percentage of payout of the grants and premia not because of the Nice Referendum on October 19th, but because of the weather.
He said farmers were due €200 million in area aid compensation from next week, and payment of the first instalment of this would begin next week.
He said October 16th was the first payout day for the suckler cow premium, special beef premium, ewe premium and the slaughter premium, which was worth some €500 million.
He said cereal farmers were also due their first payment of €60 million of the €100 million they were owed in November, and a request had been made to have this paid earlier.
"The submission was made because of the problems created by the bad weather and to increase the flow of income. We understand that Brussels will look on the submission in a favourable way and we will probably be allowed to pay the increased amount."