Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

I am too nice for that. Just in case there is any misunderstanding, I have been advised that in hardship cases, rescheduling can be provided for repayments.

My Department is the competent authority for purposes of EU funding. As many of the payments to farmers have been partially funded by the Exchequer and co-funded by the EU, the advice of the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel is that the Department is the correct legal entity.