Michael Collins: 9,300 Farmers Await Delayed Acres Payments
Michael Collins raised urgent concerns about delayed Acres payments and a tariff crisis affecting Irish agriculture. He said 9,300 farmers have been waiting since early 2024 for delayed Acres payments, including 2,300 still awaiting 2023 payments, and called for a Dáil debate on Ireland's derogation scheme.
Michael Collins told the Dáil that 9,300 farmers have been waiting since early 2024 for delayed Acres payments, and that 2,300 of those are still waiting for their 2023 payment. He described the scale of the backlog as staggering and placed the issue at the centre of his request for parliamentary time.
He warned of a tariff crisis facing Irish agriculture and said farmers want a debate on what he called Ireland's derogation scheme. He also said he met the IAV and argued the derogation is now pointing the direction for Ireland, underscoring the need for a Dáil discussion this week.
In response, the Chief Whip outlined the Dáil Reform timetable. The Government submitted the list of Committees to Dáil Reform, which will begin the process of establishing Committees tomorrow evening, with selection scheduled for Thursday morning as agreed with the Whips.
The Chief Whip noted time constraints and said three and a half hours have been allocated to the tariffs discussion, which was the main focus of last week’s Whips meeting. He said officials will look for an opportunity to have the HICWA report debated in the Dáil this week and that he will discuss the matter with the minister.
Delayed Acres payments
Michael Collins told the Dáil that 9,300 farmers have been waiting since early 2024 for delayed Acres payments, and that 2,300 of those are still waiting for their 2023 payment. He described the scale of the backlog as staggering and placed the issue at the centre of his request for parliamentary time.
Tariff crisis and derogation scheme
He warned of a tariff crisis facing Irish agriculture and said farmers want a debate on what he called Ireland's derogation scheme. He also said he met the IAV and argued the derogation is now pointing the direction for Ireland, underscoring the need for a Dáil discussion this week.
Dáil schedule and Committees
In response, the Chief Whip outlined the Dáil Reform timetable. The Government submitted the list of Committees to Dáil Reform, which will begin the process of establishing Committees tomorrow evening, with selection scheduled for Thursday morning as agreed with the Whips.
HICWA report and allocated time
The Chief Whip noted time constraints and said three and a half hours have been allocated to the tariffs discussion, which was the main focus of last week’s Whips meeting. He said officials will look for an opportunity to have the HICWA report debated in the Dáil this week and that he will discuss the matter with the minister.
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Transcript
Last week a staggering 9,300 farmers are waiting since early 2024 on delayed Acres payments. 2,300 of these farmers are waiting for their 2023 payment. We also have a tariff crisis facing Irish agriculture. And also farmers want to discuss, and I met the IAV, this call Ireland's derogation scheme. It's now pointing the direction for Ireland, and we need to have a discussion here in relation to agriculture this week in the Dáil. Thank you, Deputy. Now I return to the Chief Whip for response, please. In relation to the Committees, the Dáil Reform, as agreed, will begin the process of establishing Committees tomorrow evening, as you know. The Government submitted the list of Committees to Dáil Reform today, and we will happy discuss at the Dáil Reform meeting tomorrow evening, and we will select the Committees on Thursday morning, as was agreed with all the Whips last Thursday. In relation to the questions raised about the HICWA report and agriculture, Deputy, I know you raised that again last week in relation to agriculture, but there's only a set amount of time every week, and we have allocated three and a half hours to the tariffs discussion, which was the main focus of all the Whips last week, last Thursday when we met. But we'll certainly look at seeing is there an opportunity to have the HICWA report debated in the Dáil this week. I'll have to discuss with the Minister. Thank you.