Phil Hogan, European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, said he was “very concerned” that the beef aid package announced last week was sent directly to farmers.

“This proposal I made last week for € 50 million for Irish beef farmers needs to go through various internal procedures on the commission, and it will begin this week and will be completed in the next two to three weeks,” said the commissioner.

Further, Phil Hogan explained that after this, Michael Creed, the Minister of Agriculture, Food of Ireland and his department, will assume joint responsibility for the allocation of funds.

The Commissioner was in Kilkenny to launch the Precision Farming Center of Excellence (PACE), which will be set up in Kilkenny through the Waterford Institute of Technology with the assistance of the Kilkenny County Council.

Speaking during the launch, Commissioner Hogan said the new agro-technology center "gives Irish agro-technology companies direct access to best-in-class technology and research, as well as cascading funding."