Paul Lawless (Mayo, Aontú) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach. It is quite incredible there is this major difficulty for farmers where they have been waiting for payment for over two years and there is no one to blame. We are here over an hour and the officials have used the word "accountability" but there is no one to blame. If I do not deliver there is a cost, but it seems like if the officials do not deliver and there is an issue nobody is willing to stand up and say they made a mistake. That is incredible. I asked in the last session why the officials did not come out and tell the farmers the issue was with them and with the Department and not with the farmers, because that is what the understanding was on the ground, but it never happened. It is frustrating there is no culture of accountability. This word has been bandied around and said several times by the officials and the members, but accountability means something. It seems from the Department it means nothing. Nobody is willing to stand up and say they made a mistake, they underestimated the difficulties and they failed to communicate that to farmers. It is just not good enough. Does Mr. Savage want to come in on that?