Connacht Gold man to chair appeals committee for controversial scheme

Connacht Gold chairman Padraig Gibbons has been appointed as chairman of the appeals committee for the controversial 2012 disadvantaged areas scheme (DAS).

In August, farm groups sought an extension for applications to the DAS 2012 scheme due to a late revision to the EU’s stocking density guidelines and a number of other changes to the regulations. In response, Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney pushed the applications deadline back by one week to Aug 31.

In applying for DAS funds, farmers must now have a stocking density of 0.3 livestock units per forage hectare, up from the previous 0.15 stipulation. However, those who do not comply with this rule can still seek a derogation under a number of categories, by applying to the new appeals committee.

Derogation categories include participation in an agri-environmental scheme, taking part in a National Parks and Wildlife Service farm plan scheme, or exceptional circumstances or force majeure. DAS also applies to “new entrants” to farming, those who entered farming after Jan 1, 2010. The new appeals committee will deal with any appeals entered under these terms.

The owner of a dairy farm in Westport, Co Mayo, Mr Gibbons has been chairman of Connacht Gold for 10 years, during a period of growth and consolidation which has seen investment of close on €100m across the West, North-West, and Midlands.

Mr Gibbons is a former president of the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (ICOS), the co-ordinating body for the co-operative movement, and is a member of the ICOS board. He is also a member of the boards of Teagasc and the National Dairy Council.

Mr Coveney said that Mr Gibbons was a farmer with extensive experience of all aspects of the agricultural sector, including the operation of the DAS.

Mr Coveney said that this new appeals committee would deal with appeals from farmers had availed of the opportunity to apply to his department seeking derogation from one element of the stocking density requirements of the 2012 DAS. He said the committee would operate in an independent, fair, comprehensive and efficient manner.

“When proposals were being made to the EU Commission regarding changes to the terms and conditions governing the 2012 scheme, I confirmed that provision would be made for those farmers adversely affected by the revised stocking density requirement to apply for derogation, on the basis of specific verifiable reasons.

“As processing of each of the individual applications is well advanced, it is appropriate that provision be made for an independent appeals process under the chairmanship of Mr Gibbons, in order that those whose applications are not successful, may be afforded the opportunity to appeal their individual decision.”

The ICSA was among the more vocal of the farmer groups who challenged the new density revisions introduced in the new DAS regulations. In particular, the group criticised the rule changes being applied retrospectively.

ICSA president Gabriel Gilmartin said: “Successive governments have seen the DAS as a soft target for cuts and I hope now that the minister will stand up for the most disadvantaged farmers in the forthcoming budget, particularly since the Government has already backed down on the issue of public sector allowances, and will now be looking elsewhere for severe money-saving measures.”