Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) rural development chair John Curran has called on Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon to get the planned independent agricultural appeals panel up and running as soon as possible.

Legislation was passed earlier this year to establish the independent panel to handle farmers’ calls for a second look at the handling of appeals to Department of Agriculture scheme payment, eligibility and penalty decisions.

“We are only weeks away from entering another CAP cycle and it still hasn’t landed,” Curran said.

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“It makes no sense that the panel isn’t fully up and running at this stage. This has been a long time coming.”

Scrutiny

The rural development chair stated that the complexity and scrutiny around the Department’s farm schemes imposes “huge stress and pressure on farm families”, underscoring the need for the review panel to be put in place.

“We need independent eyes with practical knowledge of farming to be looking over cases to deliver fairness and impartial outcomes.

“The panel must be adequately resourced and truly fit for purpose to fully preserve the rights of farmers.”

Curran also called for the panel's scope to be extended to cover all appeals and not just those relating to matters of law or the presentation of new facts to an appeal.