Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)

I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. As she will be aware, the independent Agri-Food Regulator, established under the Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Act 2023, performs two key functions: it enforces the law on unfair trading practices, and it performs a price and market analysis and reporting function. The regulator has, since its establishment at the end of 2023, been successful in delivering on these functions.

On the price and market analysis function, over the past year the regulator has published welcome analysis on the egg and horticulture sectors. Such reports are important to assist food suppliers in their decision-making. However, while there has been much positive engagement with the regulator from operators who have voluntarily responded to requests for information, a few operators did not provide the requested data. As a result, the two reports concerned were published using only publicly available data.

In light of its experience concerning these reports, the regulator has reported to me that it requires enhanced powers to compel businesses to provide financial information that is not in the public domain. The Act itself does not permit the regulator to compel the provision of such data; however, the Act provides that the Minister may make regulations on price and market information.

As I have previously stated, I am fully committed to ensuring the regulator is equipped with the necessary powers to fulfil its statutory function subject to the necessary consultative and legislative process. This is necessary to ensure that the additional powers granted are proportionate. I have to strike a balance and be very careful in any key decision I make, having engaged with all key stakeholders and taken on board the points of view of businesses, while also having been very clear and determined to ensure that our Agri-Food Regulator can continue to carry out the work we set it up to do.

I assure the Deputy that the process is under way and that it is a priority in my Department. The role in question is separate from the one associated with the very strong powers of enforcement the Agri-Food Regulator has in relation to unfair trading practices in the agrifood supply chain, in respect of which it continues to carry out work.

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