Liam Fitzgerald
Question:33 Mr. L. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the proposed composition of the new appeals body promised by him in respect of direct premia payments. [3488/95]
Written Answers. - Composition of Proposed Appeals Body.
I have initiated a fundamental review within my Department of all procedures for processing and paying applications under the headage and premia schemes. It is essential that farmers are informed at a very early stage where there are problems with their applications and this is an issue which I will be addressing in the charter of rights for farmers which I intend to introduce. In that context I will also be putting in place a formal appeals facility in my Department to handle appeals against decisions under headage and premium schemes. My intention is to put in place a facility similar to that in the Department of Social Welfare whereby appeals are handled by a body of officials dedicated to that particular task. I hope to have the new system in place at an early date.