Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State outlined the reasons for the delay, including the fact that it is not scored like the previous measures. However, it was the Department that determined there would be scoring in this. The Department set all the parameters of the scheme. Farmers had a simple choice to make, take it or leave it. They took it because they believed they had nothing to lose. In fact, they are losing out. They have bills coming in specifically to do with compliance with this scheme. It is a very expensive scheme to join in terms of the administrative costs. There is a great deal of money to be paid to agricultural advisers. The biggest is Teagasc, which is not a firm of agricultural advisers but a semi-State body. It has sent out bills to farmers for €700 or so because it helped them to join the scheme. I appreciate that we have the benefit of being elected to a State institution and that our salaries, etc., are protected. However, farmers owe €700 each to Teagasc, which has warned that it wants the money now or that it will start charging interest.

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine is a shareholder in Teagasc. He holds the shares on behalf of the State, does he not? Certainly, all of the shares are held on behalf of the State. The Department is not paying out the money because it made matters more difficult for itself than had been planned. That is outrageous. Will the Minister talk to Teagasc and tell it to hold off on the bills, on charging interest and on issuing further demand letters until such time as payments are made under ACRES? This is a very specific question. I appreciate that the Minister of State is not even in the Department that will make the decision on this matter. Topical Issues were created in order that Deputies might interrogate relevant Departments. I see three Ministers here today, two of them are taking questions that have nothing to do with their responsibilities. I congratulate them on being here. I appreciate that they are here, but we should have an opportunity to put questions to the relevant Ministers.

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