Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail)

I move amendment No. 31:

In page 28, subsection (1)(h), line 5, to delete "identified" and substitute "possible to identify".

Section 31 deals with compensation to farmers. The issue will affect farmers because the compensation arrangements will be changed. Section 31(1) states: "The Minister may, subject to this Part, pay compensation." Until now there have been various compensation schemes, including the regime of the on-farm market valuations scheme, the income supplement, the depopulation grants, the hardship grants and the various other grants available. The understanding, if not the legislative position, was that these grants would be made available in cases of hardship, for example, where a farmer had a herd turned down. The section continues: "The Minister may, subject to this Part, pay compensation, the amount of which is to be determined by way of an assessment carried out by a valuer or an arbitrator, in accordance with any guidelines..."