Tom Shehan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There is a proposal in the offing to require farmers who are herd owners to publish their names and addresses and the amount of money being received from Europe in single farm payments. This is very dangerous and I have spoken to a lot of people in rural communities who are very fearful of it. This proposal raised its head a number of years ago but was dropped. I understand that the money that comes from Europe is paid based on herd number, and I find it hard to believe that people's names and addresses could be printed in newspapers and on websites, because it will set a very dangerous precedent. Where will it finish? Will people have to give details of their bank accounts?There are criminals who have nothing to do only watch what is happening with others. Joe Bloggs and his wife, Josephine, could receive €30,000 or €40,000 under the single payment scheme from the European Union which is printed in the newspaper. Is that not identifying people and making them susceptible to house break-ins and other types of criminality? The money should be paid to the herd number. If nosey people want to find out how much others are getting, let them work for it and find out to whom the herd number belongs. Printing the name and address of the herd owner is a dangerous precedent and there is a better way. While we are all for transparency, there is a better way. Will the Leader invite the Minister to the House for statements on the matter?