Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 June 2013
440. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway was given a penalty during an on-farm inspection for failing to return a sheep census form when at the time he had no sheep; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28941/13]
View answerIn order to comply with EU requirements, the applicant was selected for a Cross Compliance inspection in 2012, which took place on the 20th of December 2012. The inspection recorded breaches in relation to sheep identification and registration requirements (sheep census details not submitted to the database in respect of 2010, at a time when there was evidence that the applicant had sheep). As a result, a penalty of 1% was recorded. The applicant was notified to this effect on 12th February 2013.
The applicant requested a review of this decision and the outcome of the review, which was to uphold the original decision, was notified by letter dated 24th May 2013. The applicant was also advised of the right to appeal the outcome of the review to the independent Agriculture Appeals Office, within 3 months of the date of the review letter. My Department understands that no such appeal has been lodged to date. However this option remains open to the applicant.
