Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will try again to explain this. As a general rule, there is a prohibition in Europe on a state bailing out any particular sector or giving it an advantage relative to its other competitors across the EU. Whether it is dairy, beef or tillage, we could not, even if we had the resources, give a specific capital injection or assistance because it would be deemed illegal under current EU trading regulations. That is the general rule. We cannot offer that state aid. There is an exception to that in certain circumstances, referred to as "de minimus" provisions whereby one can provide a certain amount of it. Under the SBCI loan scheme, a farmer drawing the maximum loan would reach the de minimusthreshold of assistance the State can give over a three-year period.