Mary Wallace (Meath, Fianna Fail)

As the Minister has outlined on several occasions, the inspection forms do not have to be read or completed by the farmer. They are to be completed by the inspector. There is a good reason for a detailed inspection guideline for the inspector, namely, it ensures inspectors from Donegal to Wexford apply the same criteria. If there was a vague, half page guideline, one could have several different applications.

The Minister was very clear earlier when she gave the statistics, which really explain the issue. Some 18,000 farmers were subject to on-farm inspections in 2004. That figure was reduced to 8,000 in 2006. There is a reduction of 82% in the number of farmers being penalised. There is much scaremongering going on and it is not fair to farmers.

I wish to make it clear that the farmer does not have to read or complete the form. The form contains specific guidelines for our inspectors. The inspector is the only person who must read and complete the form, so that there is fairness throughout the country.

We agree there is a need to simplify the form and we are working on that. Much discussion will take place between now and the 2007 single payment inspections. We want to simplify the form and make it clearer for everybody. We will talk to the farm organisations and the documentation will issue to farmers before the inspections commence this year.

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