Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 17 November 2015

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Organic Sector: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

2:00 pm

Photo of Andrew DoyleAndrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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On Deputy Fitzmaurice’s point, the Department is paying the contribution. Since there are five control bodies, there is some level of competition. There is a refund of €150 per visit. That is in the written presentation and has been confirmed by Mr. Dillon.

All the questions have been answered. I thank Mr. Dillon and his colleagues for attending. I apologise to them sincerely for the delay and I realise they are very busy people. We will endeavour to ensure this does not happen again. There was a couple of unforeseen items on our schedule today, unfortunately. I appreciate the manner in which the delegation has addressed the committee. If every meeting could be held within 45 minutes and with such productive engagement, it would be desirable. The presentation outlined what had happened, and it reflected on and dealt with every issue raised by the Irish Organic Farmers & Growers Organisation. The questions by members were primarily to seek more clarification and qualification on those points. Everybody was well informed during the discussion. The joint committee is to sit again tomorrow at 11.30 a.m., when it is to discuss the horse and greyhound fund.