The Clare-based chair of the Independent Farmers Of Ireland group believes the agri-food regulator has been set up to fail.
Minister for Agriculture, Charlie McConalogue has received government support for the Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Bill which will establish a new independent statutory authority to investigate unfair trading practices.
The regulator can look into late payments to farmers, can issue fines of up to €10m or 10% of turnover, and can refer matters to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) if necessary.
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However, Kilmurry-McMahon farmer, Seamus Shannon, believes assigning a pre-defined list of breaches to the regulator limits the power of the new authority.
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