Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

If a person writes to the Department or to me, he or she will get a response, and we will take up any issue. I must point out that there are no discrepancies. The administration of the single farm payment, the disadvantaged area payment, the new upland sheep payment and the REP scheme must be done in accordance with the criteria laid down by the European Union. We are not going to compromise administered schemes and risk the imposition of a penalty.

The date laid down in European law, which must be adhered to unless one has a derogation, is 1 December. Of the annual single farm payment total of under €1.3 billion, more than €500 million has been already paid six weeks in advance of the closing date. I assure the Deputy-----

See this speech in context