Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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493. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the threat of a fine being imposed on his Department by the EU in relation to the single farm payment still exists and the progress with the discussion to date to resolve this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34532/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I can confirm that the proposed EU disallowance remains a live issue. Following a series of bi-lateral meetings between officials of my Department and EU officials, which failed to reconcile my principal contention – that the EU approach to the level of correction to be applied should be based on the assessed risk, rather than a flat rate calculation – my Department has availed of the option to refer the dossier to the Conciliation Board. The formal Irish position was lodged with the Conciliation Body on 25 June. While a hearing of our case is scheduled for early December , given the complexities involved it is unlikely that there will be a resolution until mid 2015, at the earliest.