Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The review which was published is a very good assessment of where we are at. Additional staff have been appointed to the office. I would encourage farmers who feel aggrieved by decisions to bring those decisions to the attention of the Agriculture Appeals Office. The office is there to serve farmers.

I think that is acknowledged in the report which was carried out independently of my Department. Indeed the Agricultural Appeals Office itself is independent of the Department. It works very similarly to the Social Welfare Appeals Office, to which a file is moved lock, stock and barrel. It happens similarly in my Department. We keep the number of staff required there under constant review to see if it is fit for purpose. I am satisfied that it works pretty well but no organisation is beyond review, and certainly that review, whereas it has acknowledged the good work that body does and has raised some questions which are under consideration currently.

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