Rodgers facing calls for resignation

Northern Ireland agriculture minister Brid Rodgers was today facing calls for her resignation after it emerged that farmers making fraudulent compensation claims during the foot-and-mouth crisis will escape prosecution.

As the Stormont Agriculture Committee prepared to discuss a report on measures to combat fraud, one member reacted furiously to news that a loophole in a scheme to aid farmers could result in those exploiting the arrangements escaping punishment.

Democratic Unionist MLA Ian Paisley Jr accused Mrs Rodgers of giving fraudsters a ‘‘get out of jail free card’’.

He said: ‘‘If she is really serious about taking on the sheep fraudsters she should pass these cases to the fraud squad or direct to the DPP (Director of Public Prosecutions) instead of letting them off the hook.

‘‘Her failure to act makes the industry look bad in the eyes of the world. She should go.’’

Mrs Rodgers last night announced plans to crack down on fraud in the province’s Sheep Annual Premium scheme.

She admitted that a technical deficiency in the current arrangements could result in farmers abusing the scheme getting off.

While farmers claiming for sheep they did not have had been penalised under the rules of the Sheep Annual Premium scheme, it was now evident they could escape prosecution because of limitations in the current legislation.

She said: ‘‘This covers the provision of false information at the time of the submission of a claim, but does not adequately address the more likely eventuality of a shortfall of sheep after the claim has been submitted.

‘‘I therefore intend to amend the Sheep Annual Premium regulations to create an additional offence where a farmer does not notify the department of material changes to the particulars of his or her claim.

‘‘Claimants are already required to do this under the scheme rules and are subject to penalties if they do not.

‘‘My change will, in addition, make them liable to prosecution.’’

Northern Ireland had four outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease this year.

The first occurred in Meigh in South Armagh along the Irish border.

There were two more outbreaks in Ardboe, Co Tyrone and another in Cushendall, Co Antrim.

A statement released by the Department of Agriculture in Belfast last night confirmed that there was a substantial shortfall in sheep numbers identified in the foot-and-mouth culls and in particular 17 farmers had no sheep.

Following investigations, the department said one case was cleared and subsidy was paid.

Twelve of the remaining cases were referred to the DPP but he had directed that the legislation was ‘‘too tightly drawn’’ to support the type of prosecution envisaged.

The statement said: ‘‘Some of the farmers may remain liable to prosecution under the provisions relating to the presentation of flock records.’’

Up until the end of October, the department said the number of cull irregularities was as follows:

:: 12 cases in South Armagh were referred to the DPP and none in Cushendall. There was no prosecution for the shortfall of sheep but scheme penalties were applied.

:: 21 cases in South Armagh had a penalty confirmed while 22 cases occurred in Cushendall.

:: In one case in South Armagh the penalty was reduced.

:: In 13 cases in Cushendall the penalty was paid in full and one case in South Armagh was also paid in full.

:: In South Armagh 23 cases were still under consideration, and 13 in Cushendall were also being examined.

Mrs Rodgers last night reaffirmed her determination to ensure that farmers who claimed subsidies to which they were not entitled should be prosecuted.

‘‘I believe that this is the only fair approach and in the best interests of the vast majority of farmers who are entirely honest,’’ she said.