Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 July 2004
96 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the position regarding his negotiations to have the remaining part of County Monaghan reclassified as severely handicapped; his views on whether this area has been seriously discriminated against over a long number of years; if or when it will be reclassified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20246/04]
View answerOn a number of occasions during the past two years our Department raised the issues of extension and reclassification of Ireland's disadvantaged areas at meetings with the European Commission. On all occasions, the Commission services strongly made the point that a review request for reclassification of any area could lead to a demand for justification of the current designation and classification of all Ireland's existing disadvantaged areas.
On the most recent occasion when our Department endeavoured to progress this matter — at a meeting with the Commission on 9 December last — we were again advised to be well aware of the risk associated with an examination of any formal request for reclassification. In light of the Commission's attitude, which has its basis in negative comments by the European Court of Auditors, our Department is examining at present how best it can progress this matter further.
Does the Minister of State realise that what has been done to farmers in the area of County Monaghan to which the question refers is totally illegal, immoral and unjust? The census carried out by officials of the Department clearly showed that vast areas which have been left out of the scheme are much more entitled to be included than areas which were included on previous occasions. The Minister, Deputy Walsh, laughs about this matter but this is the only portion of Connacht-Ulster that has been left out. The latter was done for political reasons.
I ask again that the Minister put the proposal to Brussels because I do not believe it will be refused. His predecessor put the other half of the remainder of Monaghan to Brussels through the STAR committee and this was accepted. It was only when this happened that it emerged, on foot of ministerial replies, that certain areas had unjustifiably been left out. When will the remainder of County Monaghan be included?
I listened with interest to Deputy Crawford who has been on both sides of this issue for a long period. I recall his making representations on behalf of a particular organisation about it in the past.
It was the Minister's fellow countyman who shafted us on that occasion.
My countyman did a great job.
Yes, because all of the Minister of State's county was included while a portion of mine was not.
Is the Deputy stating that it was his decision?
We certainly have a problem.
I did not realise he was a politician.
He was not a politician.
Then that contradicts the Deputy's earlier assertion that this was a political decision and that the area in question was left out for political purposes. One cannot give credit to somebody for making a decision that had positive benefits for one part of the country and then claim that political negativity applied to another. That argument does not stand up and is not sustainable.
The Minister of State should tell that to the people of Monaghan.
This matter has been reviewed and considered in great detail and changes and progress have been made in County Monaghan. The Minister and his team, our colleagues, the Ceann Comhairle and I have made serious and strenuous representations about this matter. We would like to be able to ensure that a positive conclusion will be reached in the near future. That is what we want. However, we have come up against a stone wall. Professor Seamus Sheehy chaired a committee which examined this matter and concluded that the deal we had obtained was the best available. Perhaps as we go forward with great optimism into the future there may be one or two great Irish people who will have a key role to play which might ensure that there will be a positive conclusion to the Monaghan symphony.
Professor Sheehy was not allowed to visit Monaghan.
Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.
