At a meeting with senior Department of Agriculture officials in Portlaoise, IFA Deputy President Derek Deane has insisted that farmers must receive two weeks notice for all farm inspections.

The IFA Deputy President firmly believes that advance notice was only fair and equitable considering the way the Public Service treats other groups in society. Mr. Deane cited the Revenue Commissioners who give taxpayers 14 days advance notice for a taxation audit as a familiar example.

Mr Deane also added that the current policy of no notice inspections does not work in practice as a significant number of farmers are now working part-time and are not present between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. when the Department of Agriculture carry out their inspections.

Mr. Deane firmly believes, "there is a real health and safety risk associated with no notice inspections. There are real dangers on farms from livestock and other areas and it is unacceptable that a Department of Agriculture official would attempt to carry out an inspection without the farmer present."

Mr. Deane called on Minister Mary Coughlan to intervene with her Department officials and ensure that they do not undertake no notice inspections this year. The IFA Deputy President said that Minister Coughlan is committed to securing 14 days advance notice with the EU Commission and cannot allow her Department's actions to undermine and weaken this reasonable request.

---