Vol. 489 No. 7
171 Mr. U. Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the composition of the REP scheme appeals board; the status of each member; their current work areas and previous work areas over the past three years; his views on whether this is not an independent appeals board as per the charter of rights and natural justice; if he intends to continue with the current board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9574/98]
173 Mr. U. Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will confirm that it is a fundamental right of an appellant under the charter of rights to an oral hearing; and the number of farmers allowed an oral hearing to REP scheme appeals to date. [9576/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 171 and 173 together.
The REPS appeal arrangements were put in place after consultation with the Attorney General's office, in relation to the imposition of penalties as a result of compliance inspections.
The committee currently comprises Mr. Matt Sinnott, senior inspector, general agriculture policy and evaluation group, Mr. Liam Brady, regional inspector, rural development and environment group and Mr. Seamus Fogarty, assistant principal, agricultural structures II.
Mr. Sinnott was appointed as chairman to the committee following his promotion to senior inspector in December 1997. He had previously been responsible for area aid in the integrated control group. Mr. Brady is regional inspector for the east midlands region since August 1996. Mr. Fogarty has worked in structures division II dealing with REPS matters over the last three years.
The committee operates independently of other Department officials involved with the operation of REPS at local level. The current REPS review system involves an on-farm inspection by the local regional inspector or an inspector with a professional qualification in agriculture on behalf of the regional inspector. The inspector' s report is submitted to the REPS appeals committee along with all other relevant papers for a review of the decision taken at local level. I am satisfied that the committee operates in an independent manner and I intend to continue with the operation of the committee in its present format. Under the charter of rights an appeals procedure has been established to deal with premia and headage schemes which include the right of an oral hearing. The current REPS appeals committee was set up later to provide a separate independent appeals mechanism for farmers.
There have been no oral hearings by the REPS appeals committee to date.
