Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

We know all that money is paid and it is all very welcome but it is of little use or benefit to farmers who are struggling, who cannot get their payments or who are waiting. These people are contacting my office, as well as many other Deputies, and we are going back and forth to the Minister. The Department is blaming computer glitches and wrong information being inputted. That is unacceptable as these farmers must pay contractors and suppliers. There are many contractors and suppliers operating as a bank and that is little good to them. It is unacceptable in this day and age that this can be blamed on computer glitches.

The guidelines are too strict or rigid. I am not blaming the staff or workers in the Department as they are not deliberately holding up matters. In many cases, delays in payments result from an excessively rigid application process, which is unacceptable. Farmers are at the coal face, as are many suppliers. These are proud, honest farmers who have never owed a penny to anybody. When payments are delayed, they do not get any interest but if it were the other way around, there would be penalties and interest coming from the Revenue Commissioners, banks and everybody else.

They are left in limbo and they will have to deal with this issue.

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