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NI Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots has told his DAERA officials that during his tenure in office he will not be going against the view of an independent panel at Stage 2 review.
Answering questions in the Stormont Assembly chamber on Tuesday, the minister was asked by his DUP colleague William Irwin for his view on cases where the Department has went against the recommendation of this panel.
Frustration
In reply, Minister Poots outlined his own frustration when he had supported a constituent at Stage 2 review, only for the claimant to receive a letter signed off by the minister at the time saying that DAERA was not accepting the independent panel’s view.
“I have made it clear to my officials that I will not be overturning the decisions of an independent panel. When an independent panel makes a decision, it is the final decision,” he said.
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