Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I have three booklets with me which were produced by the same ecologist. Two of them have been accepted but for one reason or another one is the sticky wicket on this commonage. The three are side by side. The same ecologist did everything but for whatever reason there is a problem with one. At first, 95% of it was accepted, but then that was thrown out the window. What has happened in this case is that the people inspecting it are the people who are investigating it. That cannot be. The Minister must bring in a new team to examine this.

A delegation was in Europe during the week. I attended a committee meeting which examined the new booklet on determining eligibility. That is not yet recognised in Europe. One reference has been sent to Europe on our booklet, but farmers and inspectors are operating with it at present. I am not blaming the inspectors on the ground, because there are no criteria at present for an inspector, nor have there been through the years. There is no planning, and no courses are given to guide an inspector. In one place a person could do one thing while in another place a person could do the opposite. We must have certain criteria. Article 4.1 is used by the Welsh and we have copied them, but there is no legal basis for it.

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