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

Based on the figures the Minister sent to me last week, in actual cash terms this rural development programme is 10% less than the last one. No account is taken of inflation. Inflation is real yet farmers are being paid the same amount now as they were being paid seven years ago. This is the same as the Government proposing next that workers be paid 1950 wages and saying that they are being given the same amount of cash as they were given in 1950, which is quite farcical. Can the Minister confirm that the figures he provided to me last week are correct? Can he further confirm that he sought advice from the Attorney General as to the legal status of the letter of comfort, and when the genomics, TAMS, organic and knowledge transfer and animal welfare schemes will open?

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