Penalty points system ‘unworkable’

FARM leaders have described Agriculture Department proposals to introduce a penalty point system for breaches of conditions of the new EU single farm payment (SFP) as unworkable and bureaucratic madness.

The IFA has called for the direct intervention of Minister Mary Coughlan to sort out the contentious issue, while the ICMSA has accused the department of negotiating in bad faith.

IFA deputy president Ruaidhrí Deasy said the minister had told them only last week there would not be a point system in place to determine penalties under the SFP.

This confirmed earlier negotiations on the new charter of farmers’ rights.

However, the department had now put forward a penalty point system.

Mr Deasy said already the IFA has evidence that inspections on some farms are taking up to two days, given the detail the department is seeking.

The system proposed was unworkable and would result in a bureaucratic system of checking.

ICSMA president Pat O’Rourke said they will not accept a penalty point system that has no basis under EU regulations and is merely designed to trap farmers and impose unjustified financial penalties upon them.

The proposals are contrary to the draft charter of rights for farmers agreed last month.

No other sector would be expected to accept the almost forensic levels of interference to which the department wishes to subject farmers, said Mr O’Rourke.