Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

There are issues in that regard coming from our part of the country on the movement of animals about which we must be careful to ensure there are no disease issues. We had grave concerns, as Deputy Crawford will be aware, about disease issues in County Fermanagh, for example, which would have significant implications for us in the Border counties.

What I am saying is the rate of inspection is 1%. There has been a considerable reduction in the number of inspections. There is 48-hour notice for inspection of particular parts of cross-compliance — there is on-the-spot inspection for others — on the basis that the money being provided under the single farm payment is European and Irish, but I will still continue to pursue the idea, which is appropriate on the basis of decoupling, of longer-term notice to farmers. Moreover, the tolerances exist and we will review them.

The European Commission, which has come here to inspect us, is not particularly enamoured with the methodology we use, but I am certainly on the side of the farmer when it comes to small, simple processes that can cause difficulties. There are tolerances and, as I indicated to the farming organisations, they are constantly reviewed.

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