Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

No. The Department does not approve; it approves a payment on the basis of an application. It is the legal responsibility of farmers to ensure they are making their applications on the basis of eligible land. We have a more accurate set of photographs now in terms assessing land and we are required, as is every other member state of the European Union, to make an estimate as to whether there were overclaims and, if so, to return that money. This is public money which is being given to farmers for producing food sustainably and all the other things that are covered by the Common Agricultural Policy. If public money is being given to a farmer on the basis of drawing down money on eligible land, and if some of that land is not eligible, then that public money has to be given back.