Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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84. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding an application made under force majeure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12189/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The person named submitted an application under Force Majeure/Exceptional Circumstances measure of the Single Payment Scheme on 16th January 2004 on the grounds that he purchased lands after the reference period and requested additional entitlements on this land. My Department having examined the circumstances of this application deemed that it did not satisfy the criteria laid down in Article 40 of Council Regulation EC No 1782/2003, determining Force Majeure/Exceptional Circumstances, which provides for circumstances on the holding of a nature that can best be described as sudden, unforeseen and beyond control of the applicant during one or more of the reference year(s).

In August 2004, following this decision the person named submitted an appeal to the Single Payment Appeals Committee who having re-examined the circumstances put forward by the person named upheld the decision made by my Department. The above named was formally notified of this decision in October 2004.

Notwithstanding the lapse of time in this case, the above named person has the option of making an appeal to the Office of the Ombudsman in relation to this matter if they so wish.