Failure to obey EU rules costs country €12m

Ireland will have to pay about €12 million to the European Commission this year in respect of issues such as non-compliant farmers, and overpayments, which were revealed in audits by officials from the Commission.

Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney revealed details of the upcoming fine when recently defending his department’s approach to inspections and cross-compliance.

“It is not the case that the Government has decided to take a tough approach in dealing with farmers, rather, we are playing by the rules because if we do not do so, everybody, including farmers, will be obliged to pay the cost when issues arise from the audits to which I refer,” said the minister in the Dáil.