Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I understand that it is the intention of the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to move an amendment to the Veterinary Practice Act 2005 in due course to deal with some of these issues. Finally, in respect of the Deputy's critique of the situation regarding advance payments, they have been paid six weeks in advance of previous dates and 90% of farmers have been paid. It is one of the most efficient systems in Europe and I congratulate those who negotiated an advance payments for Irish farmers, which is not available to all EU farmers.

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