Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will be honest with the Minister. Perhaps it is my naivety but I really thought when I came in here this evening he would be able to say there was a package in place and that it was agreed. I cannot remember exactly the wording the Minister used the last time I raised this issue on the floor of the House but I think the phrase "in due course" was used before. That could have been six or nine months ago, because the last time I brought it up, the Minister of State, Deputy Fleming, took the question. I explained how disappointed I was then. The Minister and I know this has gone on far too long. What does "in due course" mean? What can I say or what can the Minister say to these farmers? They are waiting and waiting and waiting. Are we talking about a month, or two months? Can the Minister even guarantee this will be done and dusted before the end of the year? Is that possible? This happened in 2020. Will there be compensation before 2023? Could we even guarantee today that that package would be there?

On another point, the Minister talked about the farm payments being kept under review for 2023. What does that mean? Let us say there was a compensation package. Is the Minister able to tell me how that might interact with their farm payments? I am not just disappointed; I cannot believe it is not completed. I am aware many people have worked hard on this and the Minister mentioned a number of local councillors and others but I cannot know what the delay is. Maybe the Minister can tell me and tell those landowners. Maybe there are too few of them and it is not important enough. Maybe, as I said, they did not march and shout, but God, it needs to be done.

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