780% variation in farm penalties highlights need for overhaul – Naughten

In Agriculture by Denis Naughten

 

 

Variations of up to 780% in penalty rates for farm inspections across the country highlight the urgent need to overhaul the whole system, claims Denis Naughten TD.

Figures revealed in data obtained from the Department of Agriculture reveal that there is a 43% variation throughout the country in the penalty rate for nitrate inspections, a 41% variation on Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition (GAEC) inspections and a 24% variation rate on cattle inspections.

“It is statistics like these which reinforce the need for a radical reform of the whole system,” Mr Naughten stated.

“We currently have a totally unacceptable situation where the county in which you farm has as much to do with the level of penalties you may face as the actual implementation of the Department of Agriculture rules,” stated Deputy Naughten. “For example, at present there is close to a 780% better chance of having a clear nitrate inspection in County Donegal than if you farm in County Tipperary where six out of every 10 farmers inspected received a penalty.

“These variations are nothing short of ludicrous and make a farce of the farm inspection system. I don’t believe that farmers in Tipperary are any less compliant with the rules set down by the Department than Donegal, but these discrepancies show the lack of consistency in inspection standards in different counties and between different inspectors.

“If this was the Leaving Certificate would we accept a situation where the pass rate in maths or English varied by 780% based on what county you lived in? As such it should not be acceptable within the agricultural inspection system either.

“In some cases these inspections are the difference between a farmer staying in business or being forced to sell part of his farm, and all this on the basis of where he lives. It is just not good enough.

“I am calling for an independent review of the whole inspection regime in the country, to ensure fairness and transparency in the system. It is only with such an overhaul that we can have any confidence that farmers are being treated fairly,” concluded Denis Naughten.