Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)

I will put my question to the Minister once again. Will he confirm that the shortfall is currently €105 million? Will he also confirm that in order to make up that shortfall there will be no cutback in other schemes under which farmers benefit? I mention, for example, the suckler cow welfare scheme. Will the Minister give an assurance that disadvantaged area payments will not be impacted? Will he give an assurance that access to REPS 4 will not be closed off as was done? If the Minister takes the liberty of repeating issues, I will take the liberty of recalling chapter and verse the cutbacks he has introduced already — disadvantaged area payments, installation aid and early retirement scheme. Are we going to have a further litany to make up for the mathematical bungling in the Department which did not provide adequate funding from the first day? Is the shortfall €105 million? Will there be no robbing Peter to pay Paul in the Department?

See this speech in context