The current farm inspection regime needs to move to one that “helps farmers to be compliant rather than causing unnecessary anxiety and fear,” according to a senator on the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
Senator Victor Boyhan said that the current farm inspection regime – which is a key requirement under EU regulations and farm scheme terms and conditions – is not one that is supportive of farmers.
Senator Boyhan added: “Ultimately the inspection regime should move to one that helps farmers to be compliant as that is where the farmer wants to be”.
He also believes the current Farmers Charter of Rights is “out of date” and a new charter is urgently needed to ensure that farmers are treated “fairly, with respect and dignity”.
Ireland’s current farm inspection regime and the current Farmers Charter of Rights came under the spotlight this week when the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine met with farm organisations for pre-legislative scrutiny of the Agriculture Appeals (amendment) Bill 2024.
The bill was approved by the government last month and sets out the legislative framework to establish an independent agriculture appeals review panel and also the “introduction of timeframes for the seeking of reviews on appeal decisions”.
The Oireachtas joint committee heard the concerns and a series of recommendations put forward by representatives from the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA), the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA), the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association (ICSA) and Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association (INHFA) in relation to the bill.
The ICMSA told the committee that it is essential that farmers have confidence in the appeals system and that they will be treated in a “fair and reasonable manner” because many support schemes have become more complex and have resulted in “greater scrutiny” on farmers.
“ICMSA believes that the legislation needs to be comprehensive and fair, that it should be concluded as soon as possible and the new processes put in place as soon as possible so that farmer confidence in the appeal process is improved,” the organisation stated.
Free pass
The INHFA also warned that currently the timeframe for farmers to get an appeal heard is “way too long”.
“Unfortunately, this has the effect of discouraging appeals which undermines the entire process.
“This can and is seen by many as giving the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine (DAFM) a free pass and it is vital that this issue is addressed as a strong and speedy appeals system will ensure fairer and better results for those farmers that are inspected,” it stated.
The ICSA has welcomed the intention to establish an independent review panel “to provide a further option” for farmers affected by DAFM decisions particularly if penalties are involved.
“We believe that there are many different circumstances, where farmers who are doing their best, and working very hard to produce high quality food, can fall foul of the regulations and find themselves in trouble with the department and this is imposing serious levels of stress on farmers,” the farm organisation highlighted to the committee.
Farm inspections
The IFA also asked the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine to consider the consequences for individual farmers of some of the penalties imposed by DAFM following farm inspections.
“We need a fully functioning, independent and efficient appeals process. The reality is that some of the penalties being imposed by the department are higher than would normally apply in a court of law.
“The consequences for individual farmers are huge. The whole process must be robust and be seen to be fair and transparent,” it stated.
Following its discussions with the various farm organisations this week the Oireachtas committee will now report its final conclusions and make its recommendations on the Agriculture Appeals (amendment) Bill 2024 to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.