Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

This deals with the flat rate for farmers. As the Minister knows, the farming sector is quite upset about the flat-rate compensation or addition for non-VAT registered is being changed from the current 5% to 4.8%. They make a number of points about the impact this will have on farmers, particularly given that costs have increased on farms. I note the Minister said this is required under the EU VAT directive. Can he make it clear to the committee whether there is no option whatsoever under the EU VAT directive to compensate farmers for the impact of this section? Are our hands completely tied on this matter?

Is that short enough?