Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)

Many farmers are currently living in fear of cross-compliance inspections. As a result, some farmers are literally packing it in and reducing numbers. I will give the Minister an example. This morning, I met with farmers on the Offaly-Westmeath border. They told me that when 70 farmers recently held a meeting about the development of an airport in County Offaly, there was only one objector. Five years ago, some 90% of farmers would have objected to such a development but the situation has changed because farmers want to get out of farming. The Minister will be going to Brussels to try to overturn what she and her predecessor agreed at EU level. Commissioner Fischer Boel has been quoted extensively as saying there is no justification for no-notice inspections. Is it not the case that her German counterpart automatically gives notice to all farmers and that where standards of milk production meet basic quality requirements, no dairy inspections take place? The reality is that we have a different set of rules here than that proposed by the Commission or that being implemented in other countries. On that basis, will the Minister review the lack of notification with regard to inspections?

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