Mr. Joe Healy:

I thank the Senator and would hate to see it if he was putting me on the spot. That is a very good question and the rules are there and the legislation is in place. There were 20 recommendations from this committee, 18 of which are involved, explicitly or implicitly, in the rules that were set down for us. I am very confident that with the work An Rialálaí Agraibhia has to do in creating an awareness, in bringing a lot more knowledge to the sector, and in empowering the suppliers on one side with knowledge of the situation in the marketplace at any given time, they will able to do better bargaining. We cannot get involved in price-making but one would hope the work we do in assembling and doing the research and giving that information to the people on the ground, they will be better empowered to do a better deal for themselves.

With regard to the difference between the board and CEO, it is like any board and CEO. I mentioned the importance of governance in my opening statement, and proper governance structures, and it is beholden on the board to ensure those proper governance structures are in place. To cut a long answer short, the board is to support the CEO and the staff in the work they do and to be part of the strategy and workplan for the next few years. Ms Lenehan will work very closely with the board in developing that strategy and workplan. The role of the board is to ensure that workplan is carried out and to give Ms Lenehan and her team every support they require to ensure that work is carried out.