IFA deputy president Richard Kennedy told the Charter of Farmers’ Rights meeting in Portlaoise last week that the Department of Agriculture must introduce proper and effective procedures to deal with farmers’ complaints in relation to problem inspections.

He said concerns raised recently surrounding inspections strongly point to the need for a confidential complaints procedure so farmers can raise concerns without fear of intimidation.

Kennedy said: ‘‘It is vitally important that the Minister for Agriculture Minister Michael Creed ensures that the integrity of the Farmers’ Charter and the inspection regime is not undermined in a relatively small number of cases where farmers are being unfairly treated.

The IFA deputy president also told the meeting that Minister Creed and the Department must examine the inspection and penalty system and introduce a more effective and farmer-friendly approach, which gives them an opportunity to rectify non-compliances without incurring a penalty. He said this is a basic right afforded across society and direct payment schemes operated by the Department of Agriculture should be no different.

On payments, Kennedy said it is vital that there is no hold-up in payments in 2018.

“With payments for ANCs due in the third week of September, including the additional €25m secured by the IFA, and the BPS in the first week of October, any delay in payments would cause significant hardship on farmers.”