A European Committee is asking the Department of Agriculture in Dublin to review a decision which has led to significant financial losses for a Clare couple.
Tom and Mary Clair, from Lahinch, brought their case to Brussels and the European Parliament’s Petitions Committee as they sought financial redress arising out of a 2001 decision to refuse them cattle identity tags.
It meant that they could not sell some animals, and as this happened in a reference year for payments, the decision also resulted in lower payments for the Clairs in subsequent years.
During their hearing, a European Commission spokesperson described the case as an “administrative problem” and the Petitions Committee will now raise the matter with the Irish Department of Agriculture, as well as referring the case to the Parliament’s own Agriculture Committee.
