Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

It is not a mess. The differential ranges from 11 cent and 24 cent per litre under the new scheme. One of the criticisms has always been that the Department interferes too much in the commerciality of farming. This proposal will address that issue.

All the farming organisations were party to the review and they were more than happy with the outcome. Now that farmers are aware of the table outlining the differential, they will establish that they fall within the percentile and they will be able to pay for the quota that becomes available. My Department has received 2,000 applications under this scheme and there will be twice or three times as many applications under this scheme than under previous schemes because farmers have more information and a better understanding of the regime. It will be more than beneficial to farmers and I do not accept, therefore, it is a mess. I outlined that farmers had to make a decision on the basis of price, on what is happening in Europe and what the commissioner had to say and on the review that will take place in 2008. This scheme is a good mechanism and the outcomes I expect will be reflected when it closes. It will be beneficial to allow farmers to sell and to allow others access to purchase quota.

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