Farm payments being reimbursed

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed, has announced the commencement of payments of over €13.4 million to approximately 98,000 farmers. This money was deducted from their 2017 Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) payments under the Financial Discipline rule, and is now being reimbursed in line with the EU regulations.
Minister Creed says: "I am pleased to confirm that these payments totaling €13.4 million are now being reimbursed to eligible farmers."  The minister added that these payments will bring the total paid to Irish farmers under the 2018 Basic Payment Scheme to €1.19 billion.

Meanwhile, Seán Canney, Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development, has  announced the commencement of a public consultation process on the review of measures relating to the control of dogs in Ireland.
Minister Canney said: “Many people own dogs in Ireland and we want to ensure that these dogs are treated properly.”
Minister Canney’s Department has legislative responsibility for the area of Dog Control in Ireland. Certain aspects of this legislation have been in place for a significant number of years and there is a view that changes are required.
For example, the Statutory Instrument (S.I. No. 442/1998) which requires extra controls for a list of specific breeds has been in place since 1998, and some parties have indicated that this breed specific approach requires a change.
The Department is now reviewing this area to ensure improvements are made where appropriate and to ensure an appropriate approach is in place for the effective control of dogs in Ireland.  This approach may or may not be breed specific.  
The minister added: “I want to ensure that an approach is in place that places priority on the protection and safety of the public. I also believe it is essential to have a formal public consultation, to ensure these decision are made in an open and inclusive way. I have therefore decided to have a public consultation process which will commence today and will close on 6th September 2019.”
The consultation document poses a series of 10 questions. Interested parties are invited to make written submissions or comments on the questions asked, and to send them by email to dogsconsultation@drcd.gov.ie by 5.30pm on 6th September.  People may also post their submission to the Dog Control Unit, Department of Rural and Community Development, Government Buildings, Ballina, Co. Mayo. F26 E8N6.