Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department, in the context of delivering the Basic Payment Scheme, Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme, and other area based schemes, is required to carry out annual inspections covering both the eligibility of the land declared to draw down payments and also cross compliance aspects, to ensure compliance with EU regulatory requirements, in the areas of the environment, climate change and good agricultural condition of land; public, animal and plant health and animal welfare. These inspections are mandatory and there are certain minimum numbers and types of inspections that must take place annually.

I can confirm my commitment that farmers will not be subject to any penalties arising from issues generated by flooding of their farms. As inspections are a necessary requirement to facilitate the issuing of payments, it is not possible to stop all inspections but where significant flooding is evident on the farm, inspections are deferred. Undertaking inspections, while deferring force majeure cases, has allowed the payment of considerable sums of money to farmers in the run up to Christmas. In carrying out these inspections, which must be carried out to a standard which meets EU audit requirements in order to protect the draw-down of the significant funding involved, every effort is also made to take account of the realities of farming including weather conditions such as the damage caused by recent flooding.

Each case will be examined on its individual merits and in instances of non-compliance Departmental officials do have leeway to apply “force majeure” or exceptional circumstances where events have occurred that are beyond the farmer’s control.