Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 127: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review the policy of directing single farm payments via garnishee orders in view of the fact that this is a direct EU Commission payment to support farm incomes and production; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31700/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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A garnishee order is an order obtained by a third party and directed at a Minister for his compliance. It requires the Minister to pay any monies due to a debtor directly to that third party. Compliance with such a court order is not a matter of policy for a Minister to exercise at his discretion, but something he is legally compelled to do. If a Minister was not to comply with such a court order he could be held in contempt of court.

Accordingly, I have no option but to continue the practice of redirecting payments under the Single Payment Scheme where required to do so by garnishee order.