The Labour Party has joined Fine Gael in criticising the move to publish details of EU payments to farmers.
The name, address and amount received by farmers will be shown on the Department of Agriculture website from the end of this month.
Farmers have complained that it is an invasion of privacy.
Labour deputy Willie Penrose described the proposal as idiotic and silly. He said it will constitute a charter for nosey-parker interest in what some farmers are receiving.
Mr Penrose sees no problem in providing details of the sums paid to farmers on a county basis, but said the process of individually identifying the farmer is a bridge too far and is nothing more than an example of bureaucracy gone mad.
Over the weekend, Fine Gael spokesman on Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Michael Ring warned that farmers could become the target of roaming criminal gangs in search of easy pickings.
He said many people are very distressed and upset by what he described as the ‘outlandish regulation.’
However, the director of European Commission Representation in Ireland has welcomed the development.
Martin Territt said last year alone, Ireland received about €2bn agriculture and rural development funds.
‘Since Ireland joined the EU, this country has received about €40bn in agricultural support,’ he said.
‘This is taxpayers' money, so it is very important that people know how it is spent.
‘And openness and transparency will improve the management of these funds by reinforcing public awareness of how the money is used.’
