Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We are definitely agreed that people who farmers can have confidence in as regards their knowledge of farming, their expertise and so on are needed on the panel, with all due respect to the people dealing with the appeals at the moment. That is what will give people confidence in the process. It works well in the TB compensation scheme. When there are arguments about live valuations and the matter goes into the appeals process, I do not hear many complaints about the way that appeals process works. There are a lot of arguments about live valuations and so people do go to the appeals process but it works well. We have that model but I accept the Minister's point. The most essential thing is that there are a number of people on the panel who have expertise and knowledge of farming and who can understand people's cases from a farming point of view. That is essential. Regardless of how we frame it, all the committee and the Minister are interested in is ensuring that, when this legislation goes through, it will fulfil its obligations. A fair process is essential and the people who are availing of the service must have full confidence in its independence. That is endgame for us.