Released on: September 2, 2008, 9:27 am

Press Release Author: Mark Dunphy/Dunphy Public Relations

Industry: Government

Press Release Summary: Tuesday, 02 September 2008 - The Minister of State at the
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Mr. Tony Killeen TD, today confirmed
that his Department would be publishing certain details of beneficiaries of CAP
payments later this month.

Press Release Body: The Clare T.D. pointed out that the requirement to publish these
details is directly applicable and mandatory in all EU Member States. The details
that will be published include the beneficiaries’ name, their partial address and
payments funded or co-funded by the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) or
the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD).

Minister Killeen added that under the terms of an EU Council Regulation, his
Department was obliged to publish data relating to payments made under the Early
Retirement Scheme, Rural Environmental Protection Scheme (REPS) and compensatory
Allowances in Less Favoured Areas by 30th September.

The Minister said that the information being published at this time would relate to
payments made between 1st January 2007 and 15th October 2007.

Minister of State Killeen stated that his Department would be publishing certain
details before the end of April 2009 of payments made under the Farm Improvement and
Young Farmers’ Installation Aid Schemes as well as Single Farm Payments. These
details would relate to payments made between 16th October 2007 and 15th October
2008.

‘These publication rules apply to beneficiaries of all EU funds, including the
Structural and Cohesion Funds, and not just to CAP beneficiaries, and are part of a
general initiative by the EU to improve transparency and accountability. Such
details are already published in many Member States’, continued the local IFA
member.

He explained that the requirement to publish these details should be seen against
the negotiation by the Government of an EU-funded CAP package of approximately €12
billion for the Irish Agri-Food sector for the period 2007-2013.

‘It is important to note that all information being published related to historical
payments made at least six months prior to publication. I would also urge those
farmers who had not yet submitted their bank details to the Department to do so as
soon as possible given that, with effect from 16th October next, all CAP payments
will be made only by electronic transfer to bank, building society, credit union or
post office accounts. Failure to submit the relevant details may result in payments
being delayed’, concluded Minster of State Killeen.

-ENDS-

Mark Dunphy
Dunphy Public Relations
www.dunphypr.com
+353 (0)86 8534900

Web Site: http://www.dunphypr.com

Contact Details: Mark Dunphy
Dunphy Public Relations
Connolly
Ennis
Clare
IRELAND
www.dunphypr.com
+353 (0)86 8534900