I propose to take Questions Nos. 222 to 224, inclusive, together.
The appeals service of the Agriculture Appeals Office functions independently of my Department. The table below shows the number of appeals received by the Agriculture Appeals Office that were determined in favour of appellants in the years 2015-2018.
Allowed/Partially Allowed/Revised by Department after interaction with the Appeals Office
2015
|
278 (41% of all appeals closed)
|
2016
|
253 (41% of all appeals closed)
|
2017
|
261 (37% of all appeals closed)
|
2018
|
202 (39% of all appeals closed)
|
In regard to the number of appeals received in the years 2015-2018, a total of 619 appeals were received in 2015 compared with 610 in 2014. There were 598 appeals received by the Office in 2016. A total of 638 appeals were received in 2017. In 2018, a total of 556 appeals were received, a decrease of 13% on 2017.
The Agriculture Appeals Act, 2001, provides for reviews of Appeals Officer decisions. In 2017, my Department challenged twelve rulings by the Appeals Officer while the corresponding figure for 2018 was seven.