Vol. 555 No. 3
163 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the plans he has to change the penalty system for administrative errors with respect to premia and other payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18595/02]
The position is that the penalty regime governing arable and premia payments was revised and a new EU regulation was published in December 2001 effective from 1 January 2002. In the negotiations leading up to this regulation, I have pressed for a greater degree of simplification and proportionality. The following changes have been introduced:
– A farm based approach to bovine livestock inspections leading to a reduction of over 50% in the number of on-farm inspections.
– Reduced penalties for late lodgement of an area aid application involving permanent pasture. A producer may lodge an application up to 1 July with 0.5% penalty per working day late after the closing date.
– No penalty for over-declaration of forage area where there is sufficient area to support the stocking density for the livestock schemes concerned.
– A farmer who has omitted to include a land parcel on his original area aid application can add this parcel to his application up until 31 May regardless of usage.
– In the case of obvious errors occurring on an area aid application, these can be corrected without penalty in certain circumstances.
– Non-compliance with passports or bovine herd register is not penalised at a first inspection and only has the effect of flagging the herd for a second inspection within 24 months.
– The concept of false declaration through serious negligence has been abolished.
– A fairer approach to adjusting payments has been introduced where there is non-compliance.
I am satisfied that the changes introduced this year will be of considerable benefit to Irish farmers but I will continue to keep the arrangements under review.
