Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 December 2017
540. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the review of the Agriculture Appeals Act 2001; and if there is farmer representation on the review committee. [53640/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra568. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of progress towards the programme for Government commitment to review the Agriculture Appeals Act 2001. [53979/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 540 and 568 together.
The Programme for Partnership Government provided for a review of the Agriculture Appeals Act, 2001, to ensure the independence and efficiency of the office in dealing with appeals from farmers. In fulfilment of this undertaking, I established a Review Committee comprising three members, Niamh O’Donoghue, former Secretary General, Department of Social Protection (Chair), Padraig Gibbons, a farmer and former chairman of Aurivo Co-operative Society Limited and former President of the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (ICOS), and Paud Evans, retired Principal Officer, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, to carry out the review and furnish its Report to me by the end of this year.
In line with the Terms of Reference and following consultation with relevant stakeholders, the Review Committee will compile and furnish its Report, to include recommendations as regards the legislation governing and the future operation of the Agriculture Appeals Office, to me by the end of December 2017. Following receipt of the Report, I will consider its findings and any recommendations that the Review Committee may make.
