Coughlan defends inspection scheme

THE cross-compliance inspections procedure under the single payment scheme has been defended by Agriculture and Food Minister Mary Coughlan as fair and equitable.

She was responding to criticism of the procedure and complaints that farmers could suffer serious financial penalties even for technical breaches of regulations.

Ms Coughlan said the total amount of money withheld because of sanctions applied during cross-compliance inspections in 2005 was €337,000. This represents some 0.029% of €1.16 billion, the total value of the single payment scheme in Ireland in 2005.