Joe Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 150: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the status of the consumer liaison panel; when it is next due to report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32883/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Consumer Liaison Panel was established in January 2002 to strengthen communication between the consumer and my Department. It is a Standing Panel which operates independently of the Department and meets as it considers necessary to liaise on general consumer issues in relation to the activities of the Department and to comment on the flow of information both to and from the public.

The Panel is chaired by Ms Marian Finucane and has representatives of the Consumers' Association of Ireland, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, the Irish Countrywomen's Association, Voluntary and Community Sector Platform, RGDATA and representatives of major food retail outlets.

Since its establishment the Panel has been briefed on Department activities across a wide range of food safety, environmental and agricultural policy issues of direct concern to consumers. The Panel has to-date issued a number of recommendations on such areas as food labelling, food imports and the necessity for consumer input into the CAP reform process. At present it is considering the findings of a report it has commissioned on food prices in Ireland.

As set out in the Agri Vision 2015 Action Plan, the Department will continue to give priority to the role of the consumer and in this regard the Department is committed to reviewing the operation of the Panel.