The IFA has made a detailed submission to the agricultural appeals review, proposing major reforms to ensure a fully independent, fair and effective appeals system, with a new structure involving an independent board with independent members, including farmer nominees.

IFA deputy president Richard Kennedy said: “Farmers must have confidence in the appeals system that their cases will be dealt with fairly, impartially and efficiently. They do not perceive the current structure and arrangements of the agriculture appeals office to be fully independent.”

The proposed independent board would select an independent chair and the director of appeals would report to the new chair and the new board of the agriculture appeals body.

The IFA is demanding that farmers have the opportunity to have all appeal cases heard by a fully independent appeals panel. It has proposed that the appeals office should establish an independent panel from which members can be drawn to hear an appeal.

In cases following an inspection, where a penalty is imposed, Kennedy said farmers must be fully informed by the Department of Agriculture of all of their rights including their entitlement to a full independent oral hearing in the appeals office.

Kennedy said there needs to be a definitive time line for the appeals office to effectively deal with all appeal cases.

Farmers must also have a facility whereby they can seek an appeal in circumstances where the timeline for lodging an appeal has lapsed, especially where there are mitigating circumstances or new evidence or facts emerge regarding the case.

The IFA is proposing that the remit of the appeals office be widened to provide farmers with a means to provide confidential feedback on the conduct of inspections carried out on their farms.

In order to remove the unnecessary fear and anxiety caused by Department of Agriculture inspections at farm level, the IFA is also seeking a full review of the inspection process and regime.