Paul Lawless (Mayo, Aontú) | Oireachtas source

This is the problem. There is still a lack of accountability, honesty and transparency. As of two or three months ago, farmers still did not know where the problem was. There has not been a culture of transparency in relation to this. Even today, we are still not getting the answers. The Department knew about the problems with ACRES from the end of 2023. We all make mistakes but at what stage did the Department or Minister issue a statement to say there were major difficulties with ACRES, the scale of which was enormous, and that farmers would be waiting a year or two for payment? That did not happen.