Dáil debates
Tuesday, 24 March 2009
Farm Waste Management.
3:00 pm
Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
I assure the Minister that I am not seeking any budgetary figures and do not intend to probe into confidential Cabinet deliberations. Does the Minister accept there is a shortfall of €105 million in his Department's capacity to make the 40% payments in 2009? Farmers seek an assurance that the payments they are receiving under various schemes will not be reduced. In other words, there must be no robbing of Peter to pay Paul. Rather, supplementary funds must be allocated to meet the Government's liability under the farm waste management scheme. Will the Minister confirm that the suckler cow welfare scheme, for example, will not be further reduced in order to make up the Department's shortfall?
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