Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)

Section 12(3)(d) of the Act allows the regulator to seek data impacting on price and margins from businesses within the agricultural and food supply chain. The data include, but are not limited to, prices paid and received and margins. This answers the Deputy’s question in this regard.

I do not want any suggestion to land that the Agri-Food Regulator is not able to operate. It is operating very well and I commend it on its work, which has been valuable to date. I acknowledge the fact that the regulator secured, in November of last year, a conviction of a meat processor in the courts for the non-payment of a cattle farmer in the west. It is getting on with its work. It has highlighted to me some of the frustrations it has found in the system to date. I am reflecting on these and will implement the programme for Government commitment to provide enhanced powers to the Agri-Food Regulator, but I am doing that in a responsible way.

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