Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As I stated, it would have been much better to direct that funding through Teagasc which could have undertaken its assessments but which would not have the same connotations for many farmers as involving the veterinary offices.

I mean no disrespect to the veterinary offices, but as we all know, many people are suspicious about what I describe. Deputy Tom Hayes may shake his head, but we all know the general reaction when departmental officials wander over farms to carry out inspections. I refer, in particular, to the reaction of farmers who, perhaps for financial reasons, might not have been able to keep their stock in perfect order. The approach in this regard could have been better.

It is important for the Minister to issue the AEOS 1, AEOS 2 and REPS payments. In the counter motion the Government boasts about what it is doing. The payments should have been made ages ago. No reference is made to REPS 4 payments. As the Minister knows, there are many to be made. If he does not know, he should because everybody else in agriculture knows that while the REPS 4 payments were cleared in Johnstown Castle, farmers are being told they will have to wait two or three weeks because of some glitch in the payments section in the Department. I do not understand why, in the middle of a crisis, the Department cannot issue the payments. Farmers who ring the Minister's Department are told they will have to hang on for three or four weeks for the REPS 4 payments, even though they have been cleared. It is important that the Minister clarify when the affected farmers will receive their payments. Ultimately, the promise of a payment never paid the bank manager. The only thing the bank manager accepts is the actual payment up-front.

If there is a cold spring next year, it is important that there be a proper plan in place to deal with a crisis. Owing to the very late spring this year and because no feed is held over in sheds, as used to be the practice of many farmers, there is no feed in the country. Any farmer who had feed sold it and made it available. Therefore, we need to ensure this crisis does not recur.

I have two final suggestions. The first is that the Minister reverse the decision on stocking density requirements under the disadvantaged areas scheme this year. Every farmer must use his or her land and, under the rules of cross-compliance, cannot obtain the single farm payment unless it is kept in good agricultural and environmental condition. It is ridiculous to force ever higher stocking densities this year, a year in which every ounce of surplus grass is likely to be needed. It would be very simple for the Minister to address this. It was a purely Irish decision to increase stocking densities. The Minister should return to the previous stocking densities and ensure farmers with certain grazing patterns will not have to buy in stock. It is time we recognised that grass, be it silage or hay, is a crop in itself and that it is as valid a crop for feeding cattle as barley, for example.

My final point is that late every autumn, after payments have started, the Department raises queries about certain farmers' applications. In many cases, these farmers are not paid until much later than the rest of farmers. In many cases, it is the vulnerable who are affected. I refer to those who may be prone to a small error here or there.

I understand the Minister's position. Perhaps he might confirm that there is a limit to what he can do in bringing payments forward because of EU regulations. Many have asked me to ask him to bring forward payments such as the disadvantaged areas scheme payment and the single farm payment, but I understand he cannot legally do so because there is a European regulation that has to be honoured and that the payments can only be made on a certain date. However, under Ireland's Presidency, it is important that the Minister bring forward the date in the autumn as much as possible in view of the circumstances that arise. Since the applications are being made this month, we should use the months of June, July, August and September to check every file. If there are queries about files, they should be raised in this period, not when the farmer expects to receive the payment. When the payment is expected, the farmer rings the Department only to be told it will be writing to him or her the following week about a query about his file. Doing what I propose would be very simple step. It is totally within the gift and capability of the Minister. The suggestions I have made are practical and would make a difference to farmers. No doubt my colleagues will be adding to my suggestions in order that we can ensure that what happened in the spring will not happen again.

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