Irish Social Affairs Commissioner Pádraig Flynn this week blocked proposals to claw back money

Date: 21/03/1996

illegally spent by member states under the Common Agricultural Policy, using the so-called “Article 4” procedure. Ireland has been lobbying hard for months to reduce fines expected to total over 100 million ecu for misuse of funds in the beef sector in 1990-91. Under the procedure used by Flynn, the measure can only be delayed for one week.