Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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I understand that the imagery has become very refined and one can do those things. However, the big issue is that a contractual arrangement was entered into with farmers. It was subject to a review in the mid-2000s and everybody thought everything was hunky-dory. Farmers are entitled to have a legitimate expectation, and that is a European principle as well, that all was fine and dandy, but now they are being hit with this. I saw some of the stuff that was sent out. I saw some of the maps excluding an area of land where the man lives - his house is on it. I wrote in about it, but I do not know whether it was corrected. I was absolutely astounded. This is a big area of land in the Ballymore area of Westmeath. As a result of this, he did not have the correct area of land. He said to me, "This is where I live, as you know". I knew that and I was astounded by it. Some of the areas that were coming out were bounded by the lines, but this area did not appear to be bounded. That led to a misconception, in my view. I did not hear anything back so it probably was corrected, although it might not have been. That is the type of thing that drives people mad, when they think that they have made everything they have submitted correct and they have done so over a number of years. It is causing real angst.

Deputy Ó Cuív is correct. If there is a small area of land and the penalty is trebled and so forth, it has a huge impact. Does the appeal system allow for an oral hearing, or is it just a documentary, evidential hearing? Is it like the normal appeals system that was established in 2006 - the witnesses will know that I was deeply involved with and interested in that - or is it just the submission of documentary evidence? A person who feels aggrieved should be entitled to give oral evidence, backed up by whatever professional he or she brings to ensure that their case is adequately presented and that there is no ambiguity about the point they are making in terms of the corrections.