Eamon Scanlon (Fianna Fail)

I support Senator Browne's call for a debate on farm inspections. In the past 18,000 inspections were carried out annually but that number has reduced to 8,000. The Minister for Agriculture and Food has been in discussions with the German Federal Minister for Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection, Horst Seehofer, prior to Germany assuming the EU Presidency on 1 January 2007. He is a strong supporter of eliminating the red tape faced by farmers, of which there is too much. On-the-spot inspections are very unfair. For example, last night the weather in the west was bad and silage wrap or plastic could have blown all over the land. If a farm was inspected this morning, the farmer concerned would have had a problem regarding cross-compliance. Many farmers have part-time jobs and it is crucial that they are given at least 48 hours notice of an inspection.