Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will pick up on the issues raised by Deputy Doherty. We are getting significant feedback from the poultry sector in particular. Nobody can defend any systematic excess payment of the flat-rate addition, but the feedback from individual farmers in the poultry sector and the representative bodies is that if this is introduced on 1 January next year, it will be devastating. That activity is concentrated in a particular number of counties where much of its employment and activity are generated. Will the Minister of State advise the committee if that sector is the origin of this proposed change by the Revenue Commissioners and the Department? Has the Department considered the impact this change would have if introduced on 1 January 2017? Is there any merit in allowing the sector some time to review the structures in order that it can mitigate the impact of this change in such a short period?