Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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549. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address a matter regarding the case of a person (details supplied). [29813/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to inform the Deputy that the Agriculture Appeals Office operates independently of my Department.

I have been informed, however, that an appeal was received by the Agriculture Appeals Office on 6th April 2021.  

The Appeals Office operates in accordance with the Agriculture Appeals Regulations 2002 which require an appeal to be made within three months of the date of the decision letter from the Department.  The decision letter from the Department to the person named is dated 21st November 2020 and, therefore, an appeal should have been submitted to the Appeals Office by 21st February 2021. 

I am informed that as the appeal from the person named was received in the Appeals Office on 6th April 2021, it was outside of the three month timeframe.  I am further informed that the person named was notified that they could request that the Director consider accepting a late appeal where they believe exceptional circumstances exist that caused the delay in lodging the appeal. 

The person named was requested to outline the circumstances of such a late appeal by 6th May 2021.  However, no such request has been received in the Appeals Office. I am advised that the Director will consider evidence concerning exceptional circumstances should the person named wish to submit details as soon as possible.