Farmers have raised concerns over incurring penalties to their farm payments as a result of fires that were illegally started on other farms and which spread to their land.

Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Agriculture, Charlie McConalogue, called on the Minister of State for Food, Forestry & Horticulture Andrew Doyle to give a commitment that innocent victims of illegal burning will not incur penalties to their farm payments.

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Deputy McConalogue said: "The Department has warned farmers that anyone found to have started fires on their land illegally may see penalties applied to their 2017 BPS payment, however there are real concerns that innocent farmers who are victims of illegal burning could also be punished. This is neither fair nor proportionate and I am calling on Minister Doyle to clarify the issue."

(CD/LM)