The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has refuted claims made by a farm organisation that farmers feel "powerless and distressed" when it comes to their dealings with the department.
Yesterday (Tuesday, July 29), Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers' president, Sean McNamara claimed that farmers are "at their wits' end" over how they are treated by DAFM when issues arise on farm.
He said: "The overwhelming message is that farmers feel they have no voice and no protection when faced with what they perceive as disproportionate or overly harsh responses from department officials."
The ICSA had said that it was "deeply concerned" about potential mental health implications, not just for individual farmers, but for entire families.
However in a statement to Agriland today, a spokesperson for DAFM said: "The department has the interests of farmers and farming in Ireland at its core with the allied aims of customer service, sustainable farming practices, food safety, animal health and welfare and provision of many support schemes for farmers.
"Contrary to the ICSA statement, farmers have significant courses of appeal when issues arise including a transparent, independent and documented appeals process.
"Additionally, there is oversight through the Farmers’ Charter Monitoring Committee which is independently chaired and comprised of farmer representative groups including the ICSA," the DAFM spokesperson added.
The department has said that the inspection regime and rates have been agreed with farmer representative groups through the Farmers' Charter committee where regular updates are given and queries are answered.
"These facilities provide very open access for farmers and their representative bodies to officials within the department. As is normal practice over many years, we welcome contact with farmer representative bodies to deal with cases they wish to raise," the DAFM spokesperson said.