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

The point I am making is that the €1.4 billion was always understood to be a commitment for spending on agri-environmental schemes under the rural development programme. There was a GLAS element to it and there was an inherited liability which could have switched to GLAS. They could have switched to GLAS but those concerned decided to exercise their entitlement to work out their existing contracts. Either way we would have been obliged to pay. Our commitment under GLAS is nearly €1 billion, and the balance is accounted for by those individuals working out their entitlements under their previous AEOS or REPS contracts. If they had exercised the opportunity to switch over to GLAS, we would not be arguing this. This is an exercise in optics. We have met the target of 50,000 participants, and we have honoured all of our obligations under GLAS, AEOS and REPS.