Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 2:

In page 30, between lines 21 and 22, to insert the following: “Minister’s Report

45. (1) The Minister working in conjunction with the Regulator shall produce a report within two years of the passing of this Act.

(2) The report shall detail the success of the implementation of this Act and outline how further provisions can be made to stop below costing selling of agricultural products, the use of fake farms and creameries if necessary.

(3) The report shall also state if further cooperation is required with other departments in order to stop misleading advertising and other unfair trading practices.”.

I am conscious that the Minister wishes to progress this legislation and complete it this evening. I also know this Bill has completed all Stages in the Dáil. To carry that a bit further, if an amendment were to be passed by this House with which the Minister was or was not in agreement – the likelihood of any of this is hypothetical, in a way – that would require the amendment to go back to the Dáil for Committee, Report and Final Stages. There are three sub-elements to that process. I am conscious of time, the issue of summer recess and that the Minister is anxious to get this done. The big stakeholders - the farmers and retailers – want this legislation and a lot hinges on it.

However, I am also conscious that there is much provision in this Bill for the staff of this new body and the staff have not been appointed. There will be a long lead-in. I know much of that could do with secondment and bringing in the people. On the one hand, I am caught between the idea this is urgent, quick and needs to go to the President to be signed but, at the same time, I am conscious that there will be a long lead-in time. I am weighing to the positive. There is much logic to getting this legislation done tonight and I am operating on that basis – to support the Minister to get this legislation through the House.

Rather than taking the Minister through this amendment, perhaps he would outline his response.