Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There is a tremendous thirst within the agrifood sector, particularly among farmers, to ensure transparency will be brought to the food supply chain. I have taken that very seriously since I was appointed and, as the Deputy pointed out, I completed a consultation process, which he contributed to, at the end of the summer. Over the course of the autumn and into winter, much work has been ongoing within the Department to put in place the framework and the preparatory work for that legislation. I have kept Cabinet updated on progress on it. I plan to go to the Government with a memo at the start of next year, from where I will bring forward the legislation.

In budget 2022, I allocated €4 million in the Estimates for the establishment of the new office. The UTP enforcement authority in place within the Department is an important interim measure but its functions will come under the auspices of the new food ombudsman or regulator once the office has been established on a legal basis. It will be important for the sector in the years ahead.

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