Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 April 2015
366. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 142 of 26 March 2015, if he will agree that he does not afford commonage land owners the right to refuse his Department's inspectors entry onto their lands where verification visits and land parcel verifications occur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15527/15]
View answerIn submitting an application under the Direct Payment Schemes and other area-based schemes, an applicant agrees to comply with the conditions of these schemes. Under the EU regulations governing these schemes my Department is required to undertake inspections, including land verification checks, to ensure that the area being declared for aid is eligible for payment. The Regulations prescribe that where an applicant prevents an inspection from being carried out their application shall be rejected for payment.
