IRISH FARMERS will receive an advance payout of €900 million by mid-October to help them through difficulties they are facing in the dairy and other sectors, EU agriculture ministers decided yesterday.
The European Commission approved an advance payment of 70 per cent of the Single Farm Payment which farmers would not usually be paid until later in the year.
The decision came following intense pressure from Ireland, France and Germany on the EU commissioner, Marian Fisher Boel, to provide help to the dairy sector.
Minister for Agriculture Brendan Smith welcomed the early payout of the Single Farm Payment and said it would mean farmers would receive almost €900 million.
Farmers from across Europe had clashed with police outside the Commission buildings in Brussels and French farmers had blocked dairy co-operatives across their country.
Irish farmers had also held a protest at the EU Commission offices in Dublin over poor dairy prices.
Mr Smith said he had urged the commissioner to increase the supports for the dairy sector and to use every means available to help dairy farmers.
He said he had sought an increase in the levels of export refunds for butter and changes in the way EU cheese exports were being handled.
He had also sought the continuation of the private and public storage schemes which are used to buy surplus dairy products off the market and store them to avoid a glut of product.
Mr Smith said he was pleased that a large number of member states had shared his views on the need for action in the dairy sector.
He said he would continue to press the Council of Ministers and the Commission to take immediate and appropriate action to address the issue.