Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I have been advocating for this since my time in opposition. Indeed, I put it forward as part of our platform at the last general election. I welcome the recent support from Sinn Féin for the principle of the establishment of an office to ensure fairness and transparency. It is important that we see the Oireachtas agriculture committee do that pre-legislative scrutiny. I look forward to a robust and thorough engagement in relation to that.

It is important to outline that prices cannot be set. The market determines that. The key objective behind this office will be to ensure that there will be transparency in terms of what is happening in the market. Then we can see how it can be traced back from the prices that are available in the marketplace, back to the farm gate. We will see where the margins are going in relation to that. We can then put pressure on the supply chain to ensure that the farmers get fair reward, a fair profit and fair respect for the work that they are carrying out. I see that as a key objective behind the office.

As the Bill moves through the Oireachtas, I look forward to the pre-legislative scrutiny, as well as any engagement or perspectives that Deputies across the House will have in aiding in that. I have engaged very widely so far in consultation to ensure that we can have legislation that is as robust as is possible.

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