Vol. 543 No. 2
301 Mr. N. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the number of oral hearings which have taken place to date under the newly established appeals board; if he will name the schemes under which the appeals were held; the outcome of each appeal; and the centres at which the appeals were held. [26922/01]
The legislation governing the establishment of the new independent Agriculture Appeals Office was enacted in July. While the planning for the staffing and accommodation for the office is well advanced, the office has not as yet been established and therefore no appeals have been referred or oral hearings taken place under the new system. It is envisaged that the process for the recruitment of staff will be commenced shortly and that the office will be operational later this year.
