The Taoiseach must be aware that many farmers in heavy land have been hit very badly this fall. This is on the programme for Government in respect of protecting farmers and their incomes. As a result, cattle and the whole lot have been housed for over three months. Many farmers have calculated that they will be short 50% of the fodder they need to feed their animals through to the springtime when they go out on grass again. Thousands of farmers are in the GLAS scheme. I am asking the Taoiseach to ensure that they are paid their GLAS money on time. This did not happen last year. It will be the finish of them if they are not paid on time this year. That is what I am asking the Taoiseach and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to do.

I know there were significant delays in GLAS payments being made earlier this year, in fact, so certainly I will pass on the Deputy's concerns to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and will ask that he ensure that the payments are made as soon as possible.