Vol. 542 No. 5
107 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he will institute a review of the penalties provided for under the terms of the standards of good farming practice; his views on whether penalties in the context of European Union premium, area aid and area based payment schemes are disproportionately heavy in many cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21787/01]
EU regulations governing the payment of animal premiums, area based compensatory allowances in disadvantaged areas, support for the producers of certain arable crops, support for investment in agricultural holdings, support for the setting up of young farmers, support for agri-environmental measures and support for forestry generally require that farmers have due regard to the environment in their farming activities and adhere to usual good farming practice. Where farmers are in receipt of payments for specific environmental measures they are expected to exceed the standard of usual good farming practice. EU regulations also provide for the imposition of penalties for failure to protect the environment or adhere to other elements of good farming practice.
In order that farmers would have a clear understanding of the obligations on them and the effect non-observance of the regulations would have on their payments, my Department drew up, in consultation with the farming organisations, a set of minimum standards to be observed by farmers in receipt of EU supports. These standards are set out in a booklet called, Good Farming Practice, and a copy of it was sent to all registered farmers. The booklet also sets out the penalties that will be imposed for breaches of the various aspects of good farming practice and these too were considered in the comprehensive consultations with the farming organisations.
I do not accept that the penalties set out in the booklet are disproportionately heavy in any case. The seriousness of breaches of the various elements of good farming practice were carefully considered by my Department and I believe that the penalties match the seriousness of the offences.
