Vol. 427 No. 4
58 Mr. Connor asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the steps, if any, he will take to eliminate the unfair disqualification of farmers from benefit under the EC cow suckler scheme and the EC beef premium scheme, because of minor technical errors in their applications; and if he will appoint an independent appeals officer to adjudicate in these cases.
I am satisfied that applicants who have been disqualified from the EC suckler cow premium scheme and the EC special beef premium scheme have been disqualified in accordance with the EC regulations governing the scheme. Accordingly, I do not accept that farmers are being unfairly disqualified from benefit under these schemes.
As my Department is accountable to the EC Commission for all moneys spent on these schemes, the final decision on all cases must necessarily be taken by my Department. Accordingly, I do not consider that it would be appropriate to appoint an independent appeals officer to adjudicate on these cases.
