Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

It is important to state that a comparative analysis of the decoupled and the coupled payment schemes shows that in 2004 there were 18,000 inspections and in 2006 there will be eight. That is a significant reduction in inspections.

On the basis of an appreciation, Deputy Naughten is correct in stating that there are more part-time farmers, which of itself can impose difficulties, and I appreciate and fully recognise that problem. That is why I have been pursuing vociferously over recent years the need for simplification, an issue which was discussed with the Commissioner on a recent visit here and on which I am putting forward a number of proposals to her. However, I and members of my Department have spent an inordinate amount of time considering a farmers' charter and what are called yellow card penalty points.

If one wants to make a comparison of the penalties, for example, in 2005 and this year the cost of penalties here amounted to €337,000 and only two farms were out of context when it came to good farming practice, whereas in Northern Ireland the cost of penalties was £3.5 million. Let us look at it realistically. One is comparing the Six Counties in Northern Ireland with the rest here. Comparative analysis shows there have been considerable changes. Equally, in the context of the yellow card or the system in place, we are taking into account some simple issues which can arise in normal farming practice.

There is not more bureaucracy. There are issues, for example with the CMMS, but most particularly the issue refers to the loss of tags and I included a tolerance within the scheme. I know Deputy Crawford agrees with me.

See this speech in context