Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

Deputy Hayes does not like to hear the facts. Similarly, any individual who did not meet the cross-compliance criteria would be in danger of losing his or her single payment, which is now a very important part of farming income. That scheme has enabled farmers to ensure they are in a position to meet the criteria for the single payment scheme and, from that point of view, it is extremely beneficial to the farming community.

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