Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 December 2012
493. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will respond to correspondence (details supplied) furnished to him on 25 September 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53765/12]
View answerI regret that it has not been possible in the interim to respond to the correspondence referred to. However, I will now set out the position in relation to this case.
The person named was the subject of a Nitrates inspection by my Department, on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, on 15 March 2012. This inspection recorded breaches relating to the Nitrates Regulations and also the requirement to maintain lands in Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition. As a result, a penalty of 25% was applied. The person named was notified of this decision on 5th of April 2012 and of the right to seek a review. To date, no such request has been received. However, this option remains open and my Department has forwarded the requisite application form to facilitate the person concerned. The outcome of this review can, in due course, be appealed to the independent Agriculture Appeals Office. I might add that I am acutely aware of the weather-related difficulties being experienced by farmers and my Department makes every effort to take account of this and other factors during inspections, insofar as EU rules allow.
