Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy's written question was dealing with the task force as well but I will first respond to his point about blockchain. It certainly is exciting technology and the potential of it is very strong indeed. It is something we have had discussions on previously in great detail. We certainly have a premium product in Ireland. Farmers put in tremendous effort to produce quality, healthy and safe food. It is essential we work in every way we can to ensure we are targeting the premium markets and getting value for that. That is one of the reasons I am setting up the ombudsman office. I am consulting on that at the moment to try to ensure there is transparency and that we ultimately deliver the maximum income for farmers. That is also why a potential avenue like this needs to be explored to see how it can add value and also empower farmers and the primary producer. I would be very open to any way I can assist with looking into the potential of it. On engaging at policy level as a Department, and working with our agencies and particularly Bord Bia, the key objective is trying to ensure we are putting forward and internationally marketing the fact that our product is premium, how it is quality, grass-based and also how it is sustainable and produced in a way that is environmentally friendly and in a way that other countries do not. That is our objective at all times. Certainly there is potential to be explored regarding the capacity of blockchain.

On the task force, as the Deputy knows, work has been ongoing on that since September 2019. He may want to come in with his own supplementary on this and I can update him in more detail on where we are at.

See this speech in context