Mr. Flor Madden:

The Deputy asked what the solution is. I refer him to my opening statement, in which I said the industry should have a unified approach, taking input from industry stakeholders and ensuring it reflects the needs of affiliates. An overarching or umbrella body must provide accountability to the industry. I referred to increased stakeholder engagement, using industry resources efficiently and engaging with stakeholders in strategic planning. I will refer to planning in a moment if we have time. Furthermore, any umbrella body should be answerable to its affiliates and hold an annual general meeting at which its executive and directors would report to the affiliates. It should have a board of directors populated with representatives.

In my view and that of the RDS, there is largely an absence regarding strategising for the future. I shall split the concept of strategy into internal or organisational strategy and strategy from an industry point of view. I referred to internal strategy when I met representatives of HSI last December, but that was about company structure. Consider the last time the RDS was engaged in industry-related strategic planning, or what we refer to as reaching new heights, which is part of the current programme for Government. Before we came into this session, we met Deputy Coveney, who was Minister for agriculture at the time in question. That is how long it has been since we have had serious engagement on strategy related to the industry. The consequences of this concern training, which we can refer to later and which comprises one of the biggest problems.