Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

I wish to clarify some points. It is not just REPS participants whose scheme anniversary falls on 1 January that are affected. I know this because I sought clarification about my own REPS plan, the anniversary date of which was 1 November. I sent in my full compliance on 3 December and I am informed it was not processed because of a backlog of work, due in part to an official being on long-term sick leave who was not replaced. Mairead McGuinness, MEP, seems to have had early indications that the EU did not direct that suspension of payments for REPS 2 and REPS 3 should take place. I accept that REPS 4 is a different matter. I ask for clarification on this issue.

I raised this matter under Standing Order 32 this morning. I pointed out that the Lisbon treaty seeks the reaffirmation of the power of our own Parliament and our own national Government policy. It has been the policy of the Government to front-load the payments in order to allow people to invest. If it is the case that the EU has insisted on a change in this rule, it will be difficult to sell this concept of autonomy for Irish Government policy in the run-up to the referendum on the Lisbon treaty.

REPS has been a flagship EU environmental scheme. Farmers have come to regard it as a means of investing in an upgrade of their waste facilities to bring their farm practice into line with EU standards and there have been tangible results. However, this has come at a cost which has involved borrowing to provide buildings, waste storage facilities, new habitat zones, destocking, hedgerows and other aspects of REPS. The annual REPS payment has been regarded as a method of funding and servicing this commitment and this is now in jeopardy. Many people regard cash flow as the issue. In light of the suggestion that all EU schemes are to be based on environmental aspects, it is a question of whether the budget is running out.

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