I call Deputy Tom Fleming.

There is a huge issue, particularly in rural Ireland, concerning the eligibility of marginal land and commonage for direct EU payment.

There is an intensive and what I regard as an over-zealous inspection campaign being carried out by Department inspectors on, by and large, hillside, mountain and commonage land under the commonage framework plan. This inspection campaign is governed by unfair methods. There is a need for a method that is favourable towards farmers who are finding it very difficult to maintain an existence and a living on this marginal ground. In assessing their farming activity it must be carried out within the EU criteria laid down. Farmers have adhered to their responsibilities diligently. Now the same Department is coming back to imposing very unfair penalties on farmers who have adhered to very good practice according to the letter of the law. They have been the custodians of the land and developed traditional farming methods during the years. They maintain stocking rates and take account of weather conditions to try to make a living and maintain the family land.

A question, please.

They have played a very significant part in their local economies because they are the ones doing business with local stores, shops and post offices and are trying to keep local schools open.

Will the Deputy, please, put his question?

They are a very important element of rural Ireland.

I am sorry, but the Deputy is over time.

I apologise, a Cheann Comhairle, but, as the Taoiseach is well aware, there are severe implications in terms of penalties.

I appreciate that, but there is a time limit.

Will the Taoiseach look seriously at adopting Article 4(1)h of EU Directive 1307/2013 and make a submission to the European Commission to try to resolve many of these matters? Article 4(1)h has been adopted in Wales, for instance and would ensure compliance with all of the various EU directives involved. There is flexibility in the measure. Will the Taoiseach take this on board and ensure an application is made to the European Commission?

I am not sure whether the Deputy is talking about eligibility for the GLAS scheme or whether it is a particular problem on upland commonages or marginal land. There were a number of teething problems in the introduction of the new GLAS scheme in terms of the eligibility requirements in that over 50% of active farmers should be on commonages.

It is not about the GLAS scheme but the single farm payment.

Is the Taoiseach so out of touch?

He is out of touch again.

Will Deputies, please, stay quiet?

It is a question of planners and who should pay for the plans submitted.

The Minister of State, Deputy Simon Harris-----

The Taoiseach does not need any help.

This is Deputy Tom Fleming's question. Will Deputies, please, show respect to him as he wants to hear the Taoiseach's answer? The Taoiseach to continue, without interruption.

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Simon Coveney, met IFA representatives and farmers involved on marginal land on a number of occasions. Recommendations were sent to the European Commission in respect of approval of the scheme. In so far as I understand it, the vast majority of the issues raised were sorted out and the scheme is open for applications from farmers to draw down funding in keeping with the eligibility criteria. Where commonage or marginal land is involved, there are conditions governing eligibility for payment in terms of extent of usage by farmers and so on. I am not sure whether Deputy Tom Fleming is referring to particular instances in his constituency, but these are matters that have received a great deal of attention from the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. I understand most of the matters raised have been resolved-----

They have not been sorted out.

-----and that the European Commission has been happy to approve the scheme to enable farmers to draw down funds.

The Minister of State, Deputy Simon Harris, is spending too much time in America.

Please allow Deputy Tom Fleming to ask his question.

We all welcome the GLAS scheme and hope maximum payments will be made to all those farmers who are submitting applications, but that is not the core issue. Will the Taoiseach ensure clear and objective criteria are set for the assessment of eligibility? Probably the best formula to adopt is Article 4(1)h, to which I referred. There is a lack of flexibility and a hardness to the attitude being adopted. A hatchet job is being done on many of the farmers concerned. The worst aspect is retrospection. Many will be ruled as being ineligible to receive any payment, which will further ensure the decimation of rural Ireland. We are all aware that meetings are being held up and down the country. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice is very proactive in this respect.

A question, please.

Farmers and their families are in a very stressful state. We are not talking about the Golden Vale or the plains of County Meath.

Big ranchers in County Meath.

I am talking about the west. This issue has serious implications and there will be the abandonment of land. The landscape is our great tourism asset. The farmers concerned are doing a very good job in their farming practices to protect the landscape of Ireland. We do not want to lose this significant part of our tourism product. I, therefore, ask the Taoiseach to intervene with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and take immediate action. The farmers concerned are very fair and have been struggling against all the odds, as the Taoiseach is well aware. I ask him sincerely to resolve this issue and address it as a matter of urgency.

I have met many of the farmers concerned.

Big farms in County Meath.

I think the Deputy is talking about St. Anne's Park in Clontarf.

That is not funny; it affects County Mayo, too.

I am not sure whether it is marginal land.

Deputy Mattie McGrath can work his way through the Technical Group and become a spokesman, but in the meantime he should stay quiet.

In response to Deputy Tom Fleming, the fact that the scheme is now open for applications-----

There cannot be freedom of choice. There are rules and conditions governing these schemes which must be adhered to.

It is a question of eligibility for all schemes.

It is not just a case of Deputies Michael Healy-Rae and Mattie McGrath saying a person can apply and draw down moneys under the payment scheme. There are conditions and regulations that must be followed, but they have to be clear, effective and achievable. I think that is what Deputy Tom Fleming is referring to.

Take a look at the Welsh model.

It affects farmers in County Mayo, too.

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine has spent hours dealing with these issues with the IFA and other farming groups.

He is spending too much time in Brussels.

Will the Deputy, please, stay quiet?

We hope the scheme to which Deputy Tom Fleming refers can operate effectively in order that the practices mentioned will not be lost and that farmers can legitimately draw down the payments due to them under the conditions applying to the scheme.

On a point of order, I did not hear one word of the Taoiseach's response to Deputy Gerry Adams's supplementary question.

There is no point of order; I do my best to try to control the noise level.

It is unfair and does a disservice to the Dáil. I could not hear one word. I do not know whether the Taoiseach answered the question because of the racket that was going on.

I appreciate that, which is why I try to control proceedings, but I cannot go and physically restrain them. All I can do is appeal to them from the Chair. I want to tell the Deputy something - they are not doing themselves any favour because the public watching will get on to our offices to complain bitterly about them. Those who continue to shout are not doing themselves any good because they are heard and seen on television.