Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 17:

In page 24, between lines 39 and 40, to insert the following:

“(5) Where a local authority or the Minister proposes to recover the costs of anything done under this section, the authority or Minister, as the case may be, shall—(a) inform by notice the person concerned of the costs (including, but not limited to, salaries, subsistence, hiring of vehicles, machinery or equipment, feeding and veterinary fees), the reason for the costs and that the person may make representations in relation to the proposal not later than 14 days from the date of the notice,

(b) consider any representations duly made, and

(c) make a decision and inform by notice the person concerned, stating the decision and the reasons for the decision.”.

This amendment is intended to address the concerns of Deputy McNamara - who, unfortunately, is not in the House - in regard to the provisions of the Bill which give the Minister powers to withhold moneys due to an individual from him or her. The amendment introduces an additional safeguard by providing for a period of time within which the person may make representations and requiring the Minister to consider them before moving to withhold moneys. I should stress that the power to withhold moneys applies only where the State has had to intervene in cases of probable wrongdoing, such as disposal of non-compliant animals whose status was unverified and which, therefore, could not enter the food chain, thus giving rise to a cost to the State associated with their disposal.

See this speech in context