The Department of Agriculture has defended its decision to send letters to nearly 4,000 sheep farmers asking them to account for stock they had sold during the foot-and-mouth crisis as part of its check on ewe premiums, writes Sean MacConnell, Agriculture Correspondent. Last night it said that given the unacceptable situation highlighted in the detailed assessment of ewe premium applications in the Cooley, the Department would be failing in its duty as an EU paying agency if it did not construct additional checks and controls to protect Irish and EU taxpayers' money.
The Department said it intended to start paying the first instalment next week and asked farmers who had received letters to respond as quickly as possible.