Written Answers Nos. 2427-2445
2427. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if he will clarify a matter regarding mandatory hotel quarantine in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20822/21]
View answerThe Health Act 1947, as amended, provides that all persons arriving in Ireland from a designated state, or having travelled through a designated state in the previous 14 days, are required to undergo mandatory quarantine in a designated facility unless they are an exempted traveller under the Act. The full list of exempted travellers is available on gov.ie/quarantine.
The provisions of the Act also allows for travellers to request a review of decisions relating to their quarantine. However this can only be undertaken once quarantine has begun.
The Act refers to a "...maritime master or maritime crew who arrives in the State in the course of performing his or her duties" as an exempted traveller. This provision applies only to maritime crew on-board ship serving Irish ports who arrive in the state as part of their duties.
Neither I as Minister for Health nor my Department have any role in decisions relating to whether individual persons must enter mandatory quarantine or whether individual persons are exempted travellers. All such decisions are to be determined in accordance with the provisions of the Act.
2429. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to regional variation that exists in the payment of blind welfare payment with many HSE offices refusing to make the payment electronically and forcing persons who are blind or vision impaired to travel, unnecessarily, to collect the payment by cheque; if he will mandate payment to be offered electronically for service users nationally, similar to other statutory payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20858/21]
View answerAs the issue regarding the Supplementary Blind Welfare Allowance raised by the Deputy is a service matter, I have referred the question to the Health Service Executive for consideration and direct reply to the Deputy.
2430. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider the resumption of under 18s and pony equestrian competition; the timeline for the resumption of this activity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20460/21]
View answerUnder the current Level 5 Regulations, Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) authorise and monitor elite equestrian events. Under these restrictions, only professional and elite riders are permitted to compete. HSI has engaged with its Olympic disciplines on ensure the management of bona fide events at authorised venues.
I understand the concerns raised by the Deputy in this matter. I also recognise the importance of these activities to those involved. It is my hope that we can see a return to more activities as we continued our phased exit from COVID-19 restrictions.
2431. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to enforce the issuing of equine identifications given the critical situation in relation to horse neglect and cruelty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18111/21]
View answerIn line with the Programme for Government, equine welfare, based on a robust traceability system, is a priority for my Department, building on existing inspectorate supports across the country.
The legislation governing the identification of equines across the EU is Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/262 (CR 262/2015), as transposed into national legislation via S.I. 62 of 2016.
This Regulation provides that an equine must be identified with a passport no later than 12 months from the date of birth of the animal. The identification of an equine is determined by the unique equine life number (UELN) recorded on the identification document. Equine passports are issued in Ireland by a number of Passport Issuing Organisations (PIOs) approved by my Department.
All equines identified with a passport from 1st July 2009 must also be implanted with a microchip, the number of which must be recorded on the associated passport document, on the database of the issuing PIO and on my Department's central equine database. The Department has validations built in to its systems to ensure that legislative requirements are adhered to and that all equines issued with a passport from that date have been implanted with a microchip.
Enforcement of equine identification legislation is primarily undertaken by authorised officers throughout my Department's Regional Office network in close liaison with their veterinary colleagues across the various Local Authorities, members of An Garda Síochána and Revenue Commissioners Officials, as required. Authorised officers from my Department engage in checks at sales venues including marts and fairs, as well as at horse slaughter plants and at export points including ports and airports. Potential equine welfare issues are similarly dealt with by authorised officers in my Department, in conjunction with authorised officers in other agencies.
Where breaches are detected, they are dealt with in a reasonable and proportionate manner to ensure compliance, taking into account the specific circumstances of each case.
Work is underway within my Department to undertake a national equine census by the end of this year. This will establish the number of equines in the country and the residences at which they habitually reside. Further development of a central database to provide for the easy updating of equine residence data is also planned for 2021.
2432. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider adapting change of ownership laws in relation to equine purchasing in order that the onus is on the seller to change ownership and not the purchaser; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18112/21]
View answerThe legislation governing the identification of equines across the EU is Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/262 (CR 262/2015), as transposed into national legislation by S.I. 62 of 2016.
Under this legislation, the person who transfers ownership of an equine to another person must present the passport to the new owner at the time of transfer. Both parties to the transfer must keep a record of the transaction.
The new owner must register the transfer of ownership with the Passport Issuing Organisation (PIO) that issued the original passport if it issued in Ireland, or with the PIO that lodged the passport in Ireland if it was issued elsewhere.
There is no current legal onus on the seller to register the change of ownership, however, both parties must keep a record of the transaction.
While there are no immediate plans to change the current legislation on identification of equines, my Department's policy is to regularly review existing legislation with a view to improvement and evolution.
2433. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total CAP payments to Irish farmers in each of the years 2010 to 2020. [18121/21]
View answerPayments to farmers are comprised of direct payments under Pillar 1 of the CAP, and farmer-related Rural Development Programme payments under Pillar 2. The European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) finances direct payments and market supports. The European Agriculture Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) co-finances rural development measures under approved Rural Development Programmes (RDP).
The following table summarises the payments from 2010 to 2020:
|
Pillar I EAGF* |
Pillar II EAFRD* |
Total |
|
|
Year |
€000 |
€000 |
€000 |
|
2010 |
1,159,583 |
572,852 |
1,732,435 |
|
2011 |
1,340,534 |
536,832 |
1,877,366 |
|
2012 |
1,287,835 |
494,142 |
1,781,977 |
|
2013 |
1,220,752 |
431,147 |
1,651,899 |
|
2014 |
1,202,278 |
489,556 |
1,691,835 |
|
2015 |
1,142,877 |
395,810 |
1,538,687 |
|
2016 |
1,303,208 |
422,299 |
1,725,507 |
|
2017 |
1,207,879 |
538,835 |
1,746,714 |
|
2018 |
1,208,908 |
635,712 |
1,844,620 |
|
2019 |
1,252,852 |
641,404 |
1,894,256 |
|
2020 |
1,187,000 |
604,792 |
1,791,792 |
|
Total |
13,513,706 |
5,763,381 |
19,277,087 |
* EAGF payments do not include Market Intervention, APS & other Market Supports
**The figures represent payments to all beneficiaries, the majority of whom are farmers. They may vary from other published figures on Rural Development Programme expenditure as they exclude technical assistance and LEADER payments, which are not made to farmers.
2434. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total pillar II funding received by Irish farmers in each of the years 2010 to 2020. [18122/21]
View answerThe table below represents Pillar II funding made to Irish farmers in each of the years 2010 to 2020
|
2010-2020 |
Pillar II expenditure * |
|
Year |
(€) |
|
2010 |
572,852.00 |
|
2011 |
536,832.00 |
|
2012 |
494,142.00 |
|
2013 |
431,147.00 |
|
2014 |
489,556.24 |
|
2015 |
395,809.52 |
|
2016 |
422,299.26 |
|
2017 |
538,834.80 |
|
2018 |
635,712.27 |
|
2019 |
641,403.68 |
|
2020 |
604,792.25 |
|
Total |
5,763,381.03 |
*The figures represent payments to all beneficiaries, the majority of whom are farmers. They may vary from other published figures on Rural Development Programme expenditure as they exclude technical assistance and LEADER payments, which are not made to farmers.
2435. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of profit from the agricultural sector repatriated abroad. [18124/21]
View answerThe amount of funds repatriated abroad by companies operating in Ireland is included in the international accounts produced by the Central Statistics Office (CSO). According to the CSO, “users often refer to primary income as repatriated profits of multinationals based in Ireland”. In 2020, the primary income included in the Current, Capital and Financial Account Balances was €89 billion, comprising €182.4 billion of outflows and €93.4 billion of inflows. The CSO does not give a breakdown of primary income by sector.
In June 2012, the Department released a report entitled, The contribution of the ‘biosector’ to Ireland’s net foreign earnings: a provisional estimate for 2008[1]. The report measured the net foreign earnings in the biosector, comprising agriculture, forestry, fisheries, food, drink and tobacco industries. They were measured in terms of the net value of merchandise exports: that is the inflows associated with exports from the sector, plus international subsidy transfers, minus the associated outflows, principally on importing materials and repatriation of profits by foreign owned firms.
The report found that, in 2008, some 13 years ago, the biosector accounted for 40% (over €8 billion) of net foreign earnings from merchandise exports. This is more than double the biosector’s 19% share (almost €16 billion) of merchandise exports in that year. The main reasons for the biosector’s disproportionately large contribution to net foreign earnings from merchandise exports are lower import requirements per euro of exports, and higher receipts of EU payments.
[1] https://igees.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Reportnetforeignearningscontribution200712.pdf
2436. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount the Irish beef sector contributed to the Irish economy as a percentage of GDP and in euro from 2010 to 2020. [18125/21]
View answerI am very cognisant of the important contribution that the Irish beef sector makes to the economy. Along with the 78,000 beef farmers, the processing and preserving of meat and production of meat products employs over 19,000 people. The value of cattle output at producer (farmgate) prices in 2020 is estimated to be €2.28 billion or about 26% of the total goods output at producer prices in primary agriculture. Beef was exported to more than 70 countries around the globe in 2020 with a total value of €2.33 billion.
The sector plays a key role in the wider rural and local economy with estimates of output multipliers of around 2.5 for beef production and 1.9 for food processing, compared to an average multiplier of 1.4 for the rest of the economy and 1.2 for foreign owned firms ensuring that beef output produces a much wider return to the rural economy.
Data is available annually from the CSO examining Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at Factor Cost up to 2019. GDP at factor cost is equal to Gross value added (GVA) at factor cost. The table below shows the percentage contribution of GDP at factor cost (or GVA) for the agri-food sector as a whole.
It gives the GDP at factor cost for the country (row 2), GVA for primary agriculture, fisheries and forestry at factor cost (row 3) which will include beef production on farms, GVA in food & beverages sector which includes beef processing in meat plants etc.
This breakdown is not readily available from the CSO but is a special request from my Department each year. The 2020 data will be available after July.
In Ireland, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at current prices is calculated using two approaches viz. the income and expenditure approaches. The main components of the income estimate are (1) profits of companies and of the self-employed, (2) remuneration of employees (wages, salaries, pensions and employers’ contributions to social insurance), and (3) rent of dwellings (imputed in the case of owner-occupied). Adjustments are made in respect of stock appreciation (to eliminate the effect of price changes on the level of stocks). On the expenditure side, estimates are made of personal expenditure on consumers’ goods and services, expenditure by public authorities on current goods and services, gross domestic fixed capital formation, and the value of physical changes in stocks. The value of exports is then added and imports are deducted.
While it is possible to calculate an overall GDP value for Primary Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, and for the Food and Beverage sector, as shown above, the level of detail required to produce a reliable GDP value for the Irish beef sector is not available.
2437. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the value of Irish beef exports in each of the years 2010 to 2020, by country. [18126/21]
View answer2438. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the value of Irish beef exports to date in 2021, by country. [18127/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 2437 and 2438 together.
Data on the value of Irish beef exports are available up to February 2021 from the CSO
See attached table which shows beef exports from Ireland 2010 to Feb 2021 by value in € million, broken down by the top 20 destinations.
While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the data, in view of the volume of statistical data collected as part of agri-food trade statistics, some errors may occur. Where these anomalies are identified, the Department will liaise with the Central Statistics Office to highlight and amend the information as required.
2439. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a monthly catalogue of beef prices from 2010 to 2020. [18128/21]
View answerThe Department publishes a range of beef data including current prices, historical prices and trends.
The Beef PriceWatch App, published by the Department provides users with up-to-date information on the average price paid for animals in 24 DAFM approved meat factories throughout the country. Behind these representative prices, the user is one click away from detailed information, at factory level, for prices across the entire 15 x 15 beef carcass classification grid. The app is available here: https://publicapps.agriculture.gov.ie/bpw-ui/#/
The Department also publishes beef prices on the DAFM website on a weekly basis. All beef price information on a weekly basis since 1st November 2020 is available here: https://www.gov.ie/en/collection/f4a71-beef-average-prices-including-vat-for-steers-cows-heifers-young-bulls-and-bulls/
The Department publishes a weekly meat market report with price, production and trade data for beef and other meats which is available here: https://www.gov.ie/en/collection/b8452-meat-market-report/
In line with a recommendation in the Beef Stakeholder Agreement reached in September 2019 Bord Bia now publishes a detailed weekly "Beef Market Tracking" update which presents data on a range of indicators in an accessible format. This includes price comparisons, a comparison of Irish composite prices (for all product, and for prime cattle) with an 'export benchmark price', which reflects the relative importance of key markets for Irish beef; an index of wholesale and retail prices; and a by-product market indicator. This analysis is available at: https://www.bordbia.ie/farmers-growers/prices-markets/cattle-trade-prices/beef-market-tracking/
Additionally, monthly prices by category are available from the CSO at: https://data.cso.ie/table/AJM01
At a wider EU level, price and production information, both current and historical, is available for all member states in the EU meat market observatory at https://ec.europa.eu/info/food-farming-fisheries/farming/facts-and-figures/markets/overviews/market-observatories/meat_en
National data prior to 1 November 2020 has been archived but is still available for the period 2017 - 2020 here:
https://wayback.archive-it.org/org-1444/20201125105133/https://www.agriculture.gov.ie/farmingsectors/beef/.
Further historical data requested is not available online. However, my Department will forward the relevant information from 2010 - 2016 inclusive by category to the Deputy.
2440. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount that has been allocated annually to farmers in each of the years 2017 to 2020; the annual payment received from the EU; the annual contribution by Ireland; the annual administration costs associated with operating the payments in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18172/21]
View answer2443. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount that has been allocated annually to Irish farmers from 2017 to 2020, in tabular form; the annual payment of same received from the European Union in addition to the annual contribution of his Department; if he will include the annual administration costs associated with operating the payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18250/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 2440 and 2443 together.
Payments to farmers are comprised of direct payments under Pillar 1 of the CAP, and farmer-related Rural Development Programme payments under Pillar 2. The European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) finances direct payments and market supports. The European Agriculture Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) co-finances rural development measures under approved Rural Development Programmes (RDP).
The following table summarises CAP payments from 2017 to 2020:
|
2017€000 |
2018€000 |
2019€000 |
2020€000 |
|
|
Pillar I - EAGF* |
1,207,879 |
1,208,908 |
1,252,852 |
1,187,000 |
|
Pillar II EAFRD** |
538,835 |
635,712 |
641,404 |
604,792 |
|
Total |
1,746,714 |
1,844,620 |
1,894,256 |
1,791,792 |
* EAGF payments do not include Market Intervention, APS & other Market Supports
** The figures represent payments to all beneficiaries, the majority of whom are farmers. They may vary from other published figures on Rural Development Programme expenditure as they exclude technical assistance and LEADER payments, which are not made to farmers.
The RDP payments are co-funded by the exchequer at an average rate of 47%.
|
EU co-funding - EAFRD *** |
2017€000 |
2018€000 |
2019€000 |
2020€000 |
|
EU co-funded amount |
282,452 |
321,083 |
311,834 |
291,655 |
|
Irish Exchequer co-funded |
256,383 |
314,629 |
329,570 |
313,137 |
|
Total Value of EAFRD claims |
538,835 |
635,712 |
641,404 |
604,792 |
|
Additional National Financing by Ireland |
20,125 |
45,817 |
68,124 |
68,798 |
*** Excluding technical assistance and LEADER payments.
Administration costs.
|
|
2017€000 |
2018€000 |
2019€000 |
2020€000 |
|
Total EU co-funded and National spend on Farm sector support and controls – Programme B of Department Vote. |
726,326 |
823,173 |
874,064 |
871,290 |
|
of which: Administration |
||||
|
Pay |
50,035 |
52,103 |
53,389 |
55,144 |
|
Non Pay |
17,253 |
18,600 |
19,094 |
21,097 |
|
Total Administration |
67,288 |
70,703 |
72,483 |
76,241 |
Note on EAGF and EAFRD allocations and payments.
Ireland has an EU allocation of total 10.697bn for the programming period 2014-2020 (8.507bn for EAGF and 2.191bn for EAFRD).
EAGF
Of the €8.5billion Direct Payments allocation EU Regulation 1307/2013 sets out the annual Direct payment ceilings to apply for each of the financial years (circa €1.2billion) with 99% execution rate (see table). Additional to this, annual provisions are made for market measures and exceptional aid as per market demands.
The Direct payment ceilings set by the Commission are the maximum payment amounts allowable within the financial year. Where the ceiling has not been fully utilised, these amounts remain available to the Member States to pay applicants who subsequently become eligible for payment. Such payments are currently ongoing across all scheme years.
EAFRD
€2,190.5m has been allocated to Ireland from the European Agriculture Rural Development Fund for the 2014-2020 Rural Development Programme. The funding is for the full period of the programme and under the "N+3" rule expenditure up to 2023 is eligible to be claimed against the 2014-2020 allocation.
While the Rural Development Programme Financial Plan sets out an indicative allocation of approximately €313m for each of the 7 years 2014-2020, where expenditure in a year is less than the indicative allocation the amount available for subsequent years of the programme is increased accordingly. Thus, the extent of unspent EU funds is measured more accurately at the end of the programming period rather than on an annual basis
As of 31st December 2019, Ireland had expenditure incurred which attracted EAFRD funding of €1,650.1m which is an execution rate that is one of the highest in Europe.
In 2019, EAFRD funds claimed amounted to €338.6m vs an indicative allocation of €312.7m
2441. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the value of the base payment for the upcoming pilot of the new agri-environmental scheme; and if participating farmers will receive the maximum base payment through this trial period. [18195/21]
View answer2484. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will deliver the maximum base payment to farmers in the agri-environmental REPs scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18996/21]
View answer2511. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address a matter (details supplied) in relation to giving priority entry into environmental schemes to farmers who have land that is designated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19525/21]
View answer2554. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of places that will be available for the new agri-environmental pilot scheme in 2021 and 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20281/21]
View answer2555. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of funding allocated to the new agri-environmental pilot scheme for 2021 and 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20282/21]
View answer2556. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the new agri-environmental pilot scheme will open for applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20283/21]
View answer2557. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the terms and conditions of the new agri-environmental pilot scheme will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20284/21]
View answer2558. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the new agri-environmental pilot scheme will be open to all farmers who are not currently part of an environmental scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20285/21]
View answer2559. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider setting the minimum base payment of the REAP pilot scheme to €10,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20328/21]
View answer2560. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will report on progress to formulate a new REPS scheme; if farm organisations will be included as stakeholders in the process to design the new REPS scheme; if this new scheme will have a minimum base payment of €10,000; if the scheme will be open to all farmers not currently in GLAS; the number of farmers that can participate in this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20459/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 2441, 2484, 2511 and 2554 to 2560, inclusive, together.
The Programme for Government commits to rewarding farmers for adapting to more sustainable methods of farming and to the development of a new agri-environment scheme capable of delivering broad environmental and biodiversity benefits that will align financial supports with climate objectives. To advance this aim, the Results-Based Environmental Agri Pilot Project (REAP) is being launched this week.
The aim of this pilot project is to identify a suitable agri-environment results-based scoring system and to trial this system at a national level with a view to identifying up scaling potential for possible inclusion in the next national agri-environment scheme. Under the results-based model, farm holdings with the highest scoring receive the greatest payment. By linking payments to defined indicators the results-based model creates a financial incentive linked with outcomes for participating farmers. The model also makes it worthwhile for participants to gain an understanding of the conditions required for the delivery of optimum biodiversity and environmental benefits.
REAP will be provided for under the technical assistance measure of the rural development programme and is subject to EU Commission approval of the 10th amendment to Ireland's RDP. Full details of the project including terms and conditions and specifications are now available on the Department's section of the Government website.
REAP is an innovative, ambitious and farmer-friendly pilot that will deliver an important income boost to farmers while also underlining our commitment to biodiversity.
2442. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the packages that have been put in place to compensate landowners that had lands damaged or destroyed by the Shass Mountain Landslide in Drumkeeran, County Leitrim in June 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18211/21]
View answerA multi-agency group was established under the chairmanship of Minister for Heritage at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Malcolm Noonan in response to this event.
Leitrim County Council has engaged specialist consultants (RPS) to undertake a comprehensive examination on the cause of the landslide and the impact it has had on the natural and built environment, ecology, water quality and the farming community.
Officials in my Department are participating at meetings of the group and at the steering group meetings established to provide input to the consultants detailed report.
Following the landslide, affected farmers were reassured by my Department that their 2020 basic payment scheme payments were covered by the existing force majeure regulations in place.
My Department will continue to engage with the multi-agency group and to provide any required information regarding impacts of the landslide on future scheme participation and payments.
2444. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding point-to-point racing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18321/21]
View answerHorse Racing Ireland (HRI) is a commercial state body established under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001 and is responsible for the overall administration, promotion and development of the horse racing industry.
Point-to-Point racing is funded by HRI and operates under the rules and regulations of the Irish Horse Regulatory Board (IHRB). The Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Committee (INHSC) is the governing committee.
On 13th January 2021, Government confirmed that Point-to-Point Racing was not considered to be an Elite Sport within the COVID-19 regulations at that time and was to cease immediately. HRI confirmed to the Department that point to point events ceased from that date. The need to protect public health in the current pandemic situation at a time when number of cases were high was pre-eminent.
Following the recent Government decision regarding the limited easing of certain COVID-19 related restrictions, HRI and the INHSC has confirmed that a phased and limited reintroduction of point-to-point racing began on 10th April.
HRI and the IHRB are ensuring that these fixtures are staged in a controlled manner, based on the health and safety protocols which have been applied effectively at race meetings.
2445. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if it is the case that when his Department appeals a decision by the Agricultural Appeals Office there is no legal obligation to inform the farmer impacted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18332/21]
View answerI wish to inform the Deputy that the Agriculture Appeals Office operates independently of my Department. However, I understand that the Appeals Office notifies the farmer in such cases as described by the Deputy.
