IFA leads protest as inspection fines increase five-fold to €4.7m in 2012

Farmers demonstrated outside the Department of Agriculture offices in Portlaoise yesterday in protest against five-fold increases of farm inspection fines from €780,000 in 2009 to €4.7m in 2012.

The IFA-led protesters called upon Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney to give a full and transparent explanation on the increase in penalties over the past four years.

The IFA noted that these increases had occurred despite the minister’s commitment to farmers that the wet weather conditions in 2012 would result in a less onerous inspection regime.