The farm retirement pension has been successful in Ireland. We have taken up this scheme more than any other member state. I have had negotiations with Commissioner Fischler and the Council of Ministers to try to improve this scheme. However, there are still niggling problems, such as getting additional land. This matter was approved at the Council of Agriculture Ministers and then sent to the services of the Commission where I thought it would be dealt with fairly quickly. We often complain that our Civil Service takes a long time to do anything, but bureaucracy in Europe is excruciatingly slow.
The payment will be backdated to 1 January but that is of cold comfort to people who are on a retirement pension. I want it paid as quickly as possible. The information available to me is that the Commission will make a decision before the end of the month and then the payment will be made straight away. At least it will be a nice Christmas box for people this year.