The Irish taxpayer could be forced to pick up a much higher percentage of the ¤8.6 million paid out to farmers for slaughtering their stock during the foot-and-mouth crisis.
As the European Parliament decided to set up an investigation into the causes and effects of the outbreak, it was learned in Brussels the animal health section there has expressed unease with the high compensation paid to Irish farmers.
The Government had expected to be able to recoup 60 per cent of the compensation paid to farmers, mainly on the Cooley peninsula, but these payouts are now being queried by the authorities in Brussels.
The Department of Agriculture is concerned Brussels could insist that Ireland pay a higher percentage of the compensation from the Exchequer than had previously been thought.
In the Cooley/Proleek and Meigh area, €7.8 million was paid to 316 farmers - 55 per cent of them received over €12,600 each, totalling over €7.2 million. The highest individual payout was for nearly €253,000 and five people received between €126,000 and €190,000. The European Parliament's investigation will involve a 30-strong committee of MEPs which will meet next month.