Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Minister knows that the agriculture committee is sitting at the moment and that some of its members will try to be over and back between the House and the committee. To be fair to the Minister and his staff, we went through the Bill in detail. The committee had no problem with it. We welcome that people can be over 70 years of age and still able to sit on the board.

The committee went through all the parts relating to appeals. I said that they are pretty good. I have been involved in a fair few of them with farmers. The system is pretty good at the moment. I raised a point on Committee Stage - some of the officials were present for it - regarding a situation where if something happens and a farmer is waiting a long time, would it be possible for the Department to take action to deal with that. The amendments do not deal with that matter. I want to be very clear that I am not blaming anybody. Anyone can get sick or have something happen to them. Could the Minister do something in this regard in order that the outcome of an appeal would not take six, eight or nine months and the farmer involved would not be left waiting? I am just asking if it is possible for the Department to resolve matters internally without the need to amend the legislation. That is all I want to know. Other than that, I have no objections to the Bill.

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