Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 January 2023
1852. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps that are being taken to ensure that the Farmers' Charter of Rights is being followed in relation to on-farm inspections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1781/23]
View answerThe Farmers' Charter of Rights is an agreement between the Department and the main farming organisations, primarily with respect to the standards and delivery targets for my Department’s schemes and services. The Charter sets out the timelines, application, payment and appeals processes and is a very useful reference for farmers. Consideration of on-farm inspections is also included in this Charter.
While the Charter cannot grant rights which would affect or change the operation of EU or National law in so far as they apply to the Schemes administered by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, it does set out a framework for how the Department aims to interact with its customers.
My Department's inspectorate performs a critical range of functions in relation to food safety, animal health and welfare, traceability, the protection of the environment and compliance with terms and conditions of schemes funded by the tax payer.
All inspection staff are briefed on the content and conduct of their inspection work at both regional and regular local briefing and training sessions. In addition, the attention of all inspection staff is drawn to the requirements of the Charter in relation to the implementation and conduct of on-farm inspections on an on-going basis.
The Farmers' Charter of Rights 2015-2020 was agreed on 11th June 2015. It was intended to cover the period up to 2020, in line with the lifetime of the CAP 2014 -2020 schemes. It was agreed that the duration of the existing Charter would be extended until such time as the CAP 2023 – 2028 negotiations were finalised and the new schemes were devised.
The Farmers' Charter Review Group is due to commence discussions in the third week of January 2023 on the new standards and delivery targets for the schemes and services provided by the Department to all its clients including farmers. The Farmers' Charter Review Group will be chaired by an Assistant Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and comprises senior Department officials and representatives of the main farmer representative organisations.
Upon finalisation of the new Farmers’ Charter, a new Charter Monitoring Committee will be established under an independent chair to monitor Charter targets and commitments for the new CAP schemes.
