Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)

While the smoke screen in terms of the Government bringing forward to October the single farm payment may appear a good activation measure it does not cod any member of the farming community. It is taken as a given every year that the first tranche of single farm payments will be made in October. We cannot continue to allow this sector to be hampered in this way. All farmers want to do is earn a decent living. Farmers need to take a more proactive role.

The Government should cease the notion of the single farm payment being made in October, which is taken as a given. The Government and Minister need to have discussions with officials in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine around the cessation of all inspections during the next couple of months. Farmers are at the end of their tether in terms of management of inspections.

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