Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 111: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will report on recent agri-vision action committee meetings; when the most recent three meetings were held; the agenda of each meeting; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3757/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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There is no "Agri-Vision Action Committee". The Agri Vision Action Plan was launched in March 2006 and is the Government's response to the report of the Agri Vision 2015 Committee, chaired by Mr. Alan Dukes which completed its work in December 2004.

Reports on the progress achieved in implementing the action points laid down in the Plan were considered at the Management Advisory Committee (MAC) and the Ministerial-MAC meetings of May, July and September 2006 and the matter is also on the agenda for the forthcoming MAC meeting. The first formal implementation report will be produced by the end of next month, a year following publication of the Action Plan, and will outline the progress made to date. Progress will also be outlined in the Department's 2006 Annual Report.

In addition, the Action Plan made provision for the establishment of two high level groups to put in place a fully consolidated approach by the food industry. The Agency Chief Executive Officer Group and the Food Industry Committee met in July and November 2006 respectively to discuss the challenges and impediments facing the food industry and the means to overcome them. Both groups are scheduled to meet again this month. A group representing the artisan sector met under the chairmanship of a senior official of my Department in June and September 2006.

I am satisfied with the level of coordination achieved to date in implementing the Agri Vision 2015 Action Plan and look forward to launching the annual progress report next month at the first Agri-Vision Stakeholders Forum, which will consider key issues for the medium term future of the agriculture, food and drinks industries.