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

I have always taken a very different view where clearly there are misunderstandings and inadvertent mistakes made by people. I think we are over-strict on those. It would appear to me from what the Minister has said, in respect of 400 applicants in regard to some planting issue, that a high number of people have been involved in that type of error because I presume that not all that planting took place given the total number of AEOS applications. Is the Minister surprised that this question is so widespread and is affecting 400 farmers? Is there some explanation as to how it could affect so many farmers given that the Minister has said there may be some question that they did not do the planting which they said they did and for which they submitted documentation? I take it now that the matter has been referred to An Garda Síochána, there are serious concerns about the issue and that something systematic may be going on? Is that correct?

See this speech in context