Mr. Eddie Punch:

On the estimated figure of €12 million, I have reason to believe the final figure would not be as high as €12 million. It is difficult to determine in practice how many people would require payments because some of them will be in receipt of payments, while others will have an entitlement under the Scottish derogation. For various reasons, therefore, the entire sum will not be required to bring payments to this group of farmers up to the average. In addition, we do not know how many of the group would be excluded from payment for other reasons. As such, the final figure may not be as high as the estimate.

I agree with Deputy Fitzmaurice that a small cohort of people receive payments of €500,000. If we reduced payments to this group to €150,000 - let us not be greedy - we would quickly find half of the €12 million it is estimated we would need. It is clear that a wrong has been done to this group.

To address the question on the agriculture Commissioner, Mr. Phil Hogan, the problem is that the definition of a young farmer in the regulation includes a five-year rule. However, it also makes provision for categories of disadvantage, which I understand was used for applicants in 2008. This type of innovative use of the current definition is needed if we are to achieve a quick resolution to this problem. We must also discuss the possibility of changing the regulation at EU level because the five-year condition attached to the definition of a young farmer will continue to be problematic. In the short term, however, we must use the existing flexibility in the national reserve to look after this group of farmers.