The ICMSA has proposed a raft of simplification measures which it claims would cut down on the bureaucracy and red tape facing farmers.
The farm body has suggested that compensation payments to farmers for TB or BVD breakdowns should be paid automatically without herdowners having to submit supporting documentation.
The farm body has also called for all penalty letters from inspections to be issued within three months of the inspection date and that the inspection process be finalised within six months.
In addition, the ICMSA has proposed that roll-over claims for direct payment schemes should be on a ‘tick-box’ basis – to save both time and money – and for a greater shift towards paperless applications.
Among the changes suggested by the ICMSA are:
1. That the Department of Agriculture end the requirement to keep the ‘blue sheet’ for animals removed to knackeries. Records could move to hand-held devices.2. Remove requirement for dairy herd cert where animals are tested for TB once a year.3. The Department should facilitate those farmers who want to go paperless and use email/text only.4. A written [movement] permit should not be required for TB reactors, as the animals are collected by a designated Department collector.5. The Department should use email in corresponding with farmers where a farmer agrees. 6. All payment made to farmers should be confirmed with a text message/email (where agreement has been given by the farmer) stating what scheme the payment relates to and what year.7. Tick box for roll-over of applications, eg: BISS, nitrates derogation. If the details are the same as the previous year, then simply tick a box and submit.8. Only record usage data for veterinary medicines and remove the need to record withdrawal periods, etc.9. Dairy cow banding declarations should be on www.agfood.ie and should be done automatically based on co-op data. A farmer should be allowed to amend it at any time to take account of feeds used, etc. A farmer should not have to make an annual declaration.10. Where a farmer is restricted with TB or BVD, he/she should receive the relevant compensation automatically without having to submit supporting documentation. “The Department is already aware of the restrictions and reactor removal so why the need for superfluous supporting documentation?” the ICMSA asked. 11. All TB documentation should be available on www.agfood.ie rather than having to physically post some requirements.12. The unnecessarily legalistic tone of Department letters needs to be addressed. 13. All penalty letters from inspections should be issued within three months of the inspection date and the inspection process finalised within six months. 14. All schemes should be available for application within a given year during the period of 15 February to 15 May regardless of their starting date during the year. Such a move would save time and money for farmers and farm consultants. 15. For livestock schemes, farmer participation should be continuous, without having to make new applications yearly. 16. The requirement to keep feed purchase records should be removed and an annual statement should suffice.ICMSA president Denis Drennan said the proposed changes were practical and reasonable measures which did not compromise regulations “in any way”.
“If the Government is unable or - much more likely - unwilling to make these absolutely straightforward and logical changes then we need to hear them explain why,” said Drennan.
Describing “simplification” as “one of the most abused words in the agriculture dictionary”, Drennan challenged the Department and Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon to take on the measures suggested by ICMSA.
