Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The goalposts should not change. The farmers in question were eligible to claim headage payments and so forth. Their land was mapped by experts and it is unacceptable that the eligibility criteria have changed.

I am glad milk quotas are being abolished. I extend good wishes to every farmer, whether young, middle aged or older, who has entered the scheme. The margins are tight and the estimates regarding productivity are very strong. Climactic conditions can change as we found out two years ago when we had a bad summer followed by a long, harsh spring when fodder was scarce and augmenting supplies proved expensive for farmers. I hope a sense of reality enters the equation.

I ask that the Minister address the changes that have been made. Surely a discrepancy of 20% should not result in a penalty of 100%. This approach would not stand up in any court in any justice system of a democratic country.

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