Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I join the Chairman in welcoming the Commissioner, Mr. Hogan, and his team to the meeting. I thank the Commissioner for taking the time to meet this committee and the Joint Committee on European Affairs.

The Commissioner quite correctly mentioned Brexit. The position of agriculture will be crucial in the context of our engagement with Europe and the Commission in terms of how the agreement between Britain and Europe is completed.

I ask the Commissioner to update the committee on a specific issue. Since he was appointed Commissioner he has been making efforts to achieve progress on structural and policy measures which would help to improve the position of farmers in the retail chain. I know that an agricultural markets task force was established and I ask for an update on that. National legislation was published to introduce a national food ombudsman but this really is an issue that needs to be dealt with at European level. I ask the Commissioner to outline how things are progressing and how he sees this evolving in the period ahead.