Mr. Padraic Connelly:

Double funding was mentioned. On Thursday, 26 March 2014 we, as a group, went to the EU and met the head of the organics unit at the Commission. There were three other members of staff present that day as well. It was put to us that double funding cannot be paid out because of considerations relating to taxpayers in Europe. They said that governments can work around it in order to benefit everyone in another way. This means that there would be no need for double funding. For example, the scheme could be front-loaded, for instance. In a way, organics is already front-loaded because there is a payment for the first 60 ha and there is also a further payment thereafter of €30 for any other hectares. We are asking that this front-loading be reduced in respect of the first 20 ha and that there then be another payment. This is already there, so we are just asking that it be put down to the lower end in order to help people who are being affected by double funding. That is all I am asking.