Independent Agricultural Appeals Panel Must be Delivered Without Delay
IFA Rural Development Chair John Curran has called on Minister Martin Heydon to remove whatever roadblocks are preventing the establishment and functioning of the Independent Agricultural Appeals Panel.
“The Independent panel needs to be established as soon as possible. The necessary legislation was passed earlier this year. We are only weeks away from entering another CAP cycle and it still hasn’t landed. It makes no sense that the panel isn’t fully up and running at this stage,” he said.
“This has been a long time coming. The complexity and increased scrutiny governing farm schemes and payments impose huge stress and pressure on farm families, so it’s essential its delivered, and soon,” he said.
“We need independent eyes with practical knowledge of farming to be looking over cases to deliver fairness and impartial outcomes.”
“The Panel must be adequately resourced and truly fit for purpose to fully preserve the rights of farmers. Its scope should be extended to all cases, not just those in relation to the law and/or new facts being presented,” he concluded.
