Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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16. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is satisfied that the review which he authorised following the European petitions committee’s recommendation to conduct a fresh and independent inspection into the Keelderry commonage lands was sufficiently fresh and independent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41240/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Regarding an independent inspection of the lands which the petitioner has sought through the European Petitions Committee, it should be noted that my Department is the competent authority for the implementation of the regulations governing the Single Payment Scheme. As the competent authority, it is the only body which is lawfully authorised to carry out any inspections of lands. Notwithstanding this, I requested the Director of Agriculture Appeals to carry out a review of the findings of the Department in relation to the eligibility of the land parcels in Keelderry. Officers of the Agriculture Appeals Office conducted a visit to the Keelderry Commonage 23 January 2014. The officers of the Agriculture Appeals Office as a result of their visit and having examined all evidence available to them recommended that the findings of the Department in relation to the eligibility of this land be upheld. I understand that all applicant shareholders have been provided with a copy of this report by the Agriculture Appeals Office.

I am satisfied therefore that the review which was carried out by the statutorily independent Agricultural Appeals Office was fair, in-depth and comprehensive.