Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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I am going to call Deputy Kate O'Connell for a few questions, because I have to go to the Chamber. I ask the witnesses to give me a quick response to this. The finance accounts clearly show the contributions to the EU as €2 billion to €3 billion per annum. That is fine. Why are the contributions to the Irish economy from the EU not reflected there? I know there is a separate account, and we spoke about consolidation of all the various State accounts. The payments that come to Irish farmers under the various schemes come directly from Europe. They do not go through the Central Fund and they are not audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General. They are audited by the EU auditor. Why do they not they come through this account? If the payments to the EU go through this account, why do the receipts from the EU, the €1 billion or so, not do the same?