April 29, 2021 1:45 pm Northern Ireland Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots has said he has “no intentions” to overturn decisions on direct payment appeals made by the Independent Panel. In March it was announced the Minister of Agriculture will be the final decision-maker in future reviews of area-based scheme payments, which have been heard by an independent panel. Current cases where the department has not yet issued a decision will now also be referred to Minister Poots. However, Poots has now said that while he will now be the final decision-maker for the purposes of the scheme’s management, he has no intention to change decisions made by the panel.