Sinn Féin TD Martin Ferris is calling for an independent working group to draw up proper guidelines regarding the eligibility of marginal land under the Basic Payment Scheme for farmers.

At a Joint Oireachtas Committee meeting on Tuesday (14 April), representatives of the Irish Natural and Hill Farmers Association, the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers' Association (ICSA), the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) and the Agricultural Consultants Association (ACA) discussed the anomalies and contradictions regarding the schemes.

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Deputy Ferris said: "The answer to this is a properly formulated, realistic set of guidelines so that farmers know where they stand, what they are entitled to and can avoid the stress of inspections, appeals, disputes and penalties with the Department of Agriculture on the issue of eligibility."

(CD/JP)