Clarification needed on the workings of Dept’s Unit
It was obvious from the programme that farmers and Senior Department of Agriculture vet Pat Rogan were legally constrained from telling all.
Much more clarification of the Unit’s workings is necessary, in the interest of fairness to farmers, and respect for the role of the Department.
The Department officials undoubtedly face some difficult cases of breach of the relevant rules and regulations. There can be no going back to the unsavoury practices which operated in farming in the late eighties and early nineties, which 99.9% of farmers would not accept, and the vast majority were never a party to. The sector’s bad apples have little support and no sympathy from the majority of farmers.
There are, however, serious concerns raised also about the operation of the SIU, and they must be addressed if the SIU is to retain credibility among farmers.
Serious financial blows have been inflicted on individual farmers by the SIU. If they have been unfairly treated, they are deserving of recompense. If they have been engaged in unacceptable practices, it is another story; there is a penalty to pay.
For any farmer, financing a court challenge against the Department of Agriculture is a daunting task, posing an individual against the might and finances of the state. That mismatch does not take from their right to entitlement for justice.
Should one of the farmer organisations fund a test case in the courts? If they feel strongly enough that a member has been done an injustice, it is an option, and the SIU would have the opportunity to open files in public, and thus clear the air.
Over the years, some Department officials raised the anger of farmers with their approach and attitude, in the administration of different schemes. The Ombudsman’s files include ample testimony of how the public in general, and farmers in particular, have been unfairly treated at the hands of less than civil and co-operative state servants.
But farmers are getting nowhere with their Department bashing, as long as the Department keep their files closed for reasons of confidentiality.
