Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

Members of this House have also proposed a reduction in the number of years of participation in the scheme. Although the suckler cow welfare scheme is entirely funded from the Exchequer, the Government had to get state aid approval from the EU before it could be introduced. Further approval would be needed from the Union if a major variation in the conditions of the scheme were to be made. Any worthwhile proposals on the continuation of various aspects of the scheme will be considered. For example, the amount of money paid to an applicant might vary depending on the number of eligible animals he or she has.

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