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

We must make the corrections to the maps. The objective is to get to a position at the start of 2015 for a new CAP round with accurate maps and money being drawn down on eligible land. As part of this process, which we are required to introduce by the Commission, we must assess, in terms of making our maps more accurate, whether there has been an overclaim on land which was ineligible for the past four years and, if so, we must give back the money. Some countries have stated they cannot deal with the detail and it is too big a job. In such cases the Commission has made an assessment of the overpayment, multiplied it by a considerable figure and there have been significant disallowances. In Ireland we are attempting to accurately address the overpayment so the only farmers asked to make repayments are those who have overclaimed, whether they knew they were doing it or not.

Every year farmers have a responsibility to check their maps and ensure they are accurate, and this is clear in the application. I do not like having to ask people for money back but the alternative is a significant fine. If we decide to ask the Exchequer to pay it we will have a problem because everybody will pay for the fact certain farmers drew down payments on land which was ineligible and we will know the percentage of land which was not eligible because we must correct the mapping accurately in advance of 2015.