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

If any farmer feels he or she is being unfairly treated, there is an appeals system in the Department, which has been successful for farmers in terms of the percentage success rate so far, and there is a further appeals mechanism outside the Department if the farmer feels he or she is not getting fair treatment. That is about as fair as we can be.

We will also look at the retrospective issue because we have to do so, and we will try to put repayment programmes in place for farmers in a way that is as fair as possible and protects cashflow for farmers as best we can.

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