Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

If the Deputy is concerned about individual cases, he should let us hear about them and we will consider them. On the broader issue, we have been working overtime since the summer to try to ensure that we can avoid the imposition on Ireland of significant penalties to which every farmer in the country would have to contribute, thus resulting in a quite dramatic reduction in my ability to spend and put schemes together. That is what would happen and what is happening in other countries that have not been able or are not willing to deal with the issue of ineligible land. We are trying to deal with it in a way that asks farmers to pay back, without penalty, only moneys drawn down on land ineligible for those payments. The Department is offering farmers an appeals system, and there is a second appeals system, the fast-track appeal system, external to the Department to ensure farmers feel they are being treated fairly in this instance. If anybody has any suggestion as to how we can be more helpful to farmers, I am all ears. We have worked to try to ensure the arrangement is as acceptable to farmers as possible. If farmers have significant problems with the repayment of money that should not have been drawn down, we will provide for long-term payment schedules to facilitate them.

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