As one of the many victims of the SIU, I welcome any changes that are made to make the unit more accountable and transparent. For too many years farm families have been subjected to real fear, bullying and intimidation by the SIU. This unit has evolved from what was designed to deal with subversives and hardened criminals, to something that used and abused its so-called special powers on farmers in an attempt to criminalise them in order to justify its own existence.
I believe where victims of the unit can clearly show that where the SIU breached its own code of conduct, these cases must now be thrown out by the Minister.
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John Shirley’s article in last week’s Irish Farmers Journal highlighted how some members of the Department going unchecked and being unaccountable can be a very dangerous development.
The chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, Mr John McGuinness, must be supported on all sides of the Dail in his attempt to bring the Department of Agriculture to account and I believe the Public Accounts Committee is a useful forum to try to achieve this objective.
On the issue of farm inspections, the Department of Agriculture must operate a system that is more balanced, transparent and accountable and not allow the goodwill towards the Department be destroyed by a few individuals.
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DEAR SIR:
As one of the many victims of the SIU, I welcome any changes that are made to make the unit more accountable and transparent. For too many years farm families have been subjected to real fear, bullying and intimidation by the SIU. This unit has evolved from what was designed to deal with subversives and hardened criminals, to something that used and abused its so-called special powers on farmers in an attempt to criminalise them in order to justify its own existence.
I believe where victims of the unit can clearly show that where the SIU breached its own code of conduct, these cases must now be thrown out by the Minister.
John Shirley’s article in last week’s Irish Farmers Journal highlighted how some members of the Department going unchecked and being unaccountable can be a very dangerous development.
The chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, Mr John McGuinness, must be supported on all sides of the Dail in his attempt to bring the Department of Agriculture to account and I believe the Public Accounts Committee is a useful forum to try to achieve this objective.
On the issue of farm inspections, the Department of Agriculture must operate a system that is more balanced, transparent and accountable and not allow the goodwill towards the Department be destroyed by a few individuals.
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