Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 July 2021
451. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the appointment of the independent chair and farmer nominee to the agriculture appeals panel will occur (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38336/21]
View answerA Review of the Agriculture Appeals Act 2001 and operations at the Agriculture Appeals Office was completed in December 2017. The Review Committee included a recommendation that, where an appellant is not satisfied with the decision of an appeals officer, he or she can seek a review of that decision from an independent Agriculture Appeals Review Panel. The Review Committee recommended the panel consist of an independent chairperson, the director of the Agriculture Appeals Office and additional members with technical and practical expertise.
The recommendation for an independent Agriculture Appeals Review Panel is a key priority for the current Government. Indeed, the Programme for Government; Our Shared Future (2020) includes a commitment to “establish an Independent Agriculture Appeals Review Panel in legislation, as a priority, and ensure that the panel includes participants with practical knowledge and experience of farming”.
This and other recommendations contained in the Review will require a change to primary legislation prior to implementation. Work is ongoing to implement this and other recommendations contained in the review report and I have recently met with both the Director and Deputy Director of the Agriculture Appeals Office in this regard.
Recommendations contained in the Review Report that have already been put in place include the appointment of the Deputy Director, bespoke legal training for Appeals Officers, engagement with the farm bodies involved in the Farmer’s Charter of Rights Monitoring Committee and the holding of remote oral hearings.
