Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 591: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of regulations that have been reduced or removed since June 2007 to date in 2008 from the work of farmers. [26911/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is in regular contact with the European Commission with a view to simplification of the Direct Payments Scheme requirements. In this connection the European Commission, in consultation with Member States, undertook a full review of the cross-compliance regime. The results of that review were presented to the Council of Ministers and Council conclusions were adopted in June 2007. The following issues were covered in the conclusions:

Tolerance for minor non-compliance

Introduction of a "de minimis" rule for penalties

Harmonisation of control rates

Advance notice of Inspections

Reviewing the "10 month rule"

Making better use of the results of existing controls in the context of risk analysis for cross-compliance.

Phasing in of cross-compliance for new Member States operating the SAPS

Council and Commission Regulations are now in place implementing the new arrangements with effect from 1 January 2008.

In tandem with this my Department carried out a full review of the inspection arrangements for the Single Payment Scheme with a view to simplification of the arrangements (including paperwork) where possible while, at the same time, ensuring compliance with the regulatory requirements. Further simplification of the Single Payment scheme is being pursued in the context of the CAP health check.