Independent farmers appeals board
Michael Fitzmaurice asked whether the Government would establish the promised independent appeals board for farmers after a critical High Court judgment. The Minister undertook to have the Agriculture Minister brief him.
It was written into the programme for Government that a new independent appeals board for farmers would be set up. In light of the High Court case last week taken by a Tipperary farmer against the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, where a judge tore to shreds our current system for the independent appeals board, will the Government bring forward the new appeals board or is legislation required to do that as quickly as possible? The current system has cost many farmers a lot of money and a High Court judge has ruled on it.
Comment on this
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Creed, is no longer here. I will ask him to brief the Deputy on that matter.