Fergus O'Dowd
Question:37 Mr. O'Dowd asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food his plans to eliminate excessive penalties for administrative errors by farmers in subsidy applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20687/02]
Vol. 556 No. 5
37 Mr. O'Dowd asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food his plans to eliminate excessive penalties for administrative errors by farmers in subsidy applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20687/02]
I raised the question of the simplification of the EU penalty regime at a Council of Agriculture Ministers meeting in October 2000. An EU working group was subsequently established to examine appropriate changes to the control requirements under the various schemes with a view to ensuring a greater degree of simplification and proportionality. The examination concluded in November last year and a new regulation, published in December 2001, took effect from 1 January this year.