Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 18 June 2015

Public Accounts Committee

2013 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine

10:00 am

Photo of Mary Lou McDonaldMary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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I am struggling with the basic logic of what has occurred and the decision taken by the Minister. The understanding was not that it would involve incorporation but a brand new dawn for investigations. The Minister was moved to that action for some reason. I have already cited the IFA who, I think we both acknowledge, are experts in the field of agriculture and the experiences of farmers. He was moved also by the outcome of this particular case, that of Mr. Douglas Fannin in Cavan, and made the changes which some now regard as cosmetic and which Mr. O'Driscoll has described in detail. We do not seem to be getting off first base here because there is a fundamental clash, not just in the evidence of the cases we have heard but in the actions of the Minister, the views of the IFA and your contention that actually everything was fine and there was no need to make any changes as the unit was exemplary. That is your position.