Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 475: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of task forces currently operating in her Department; the membership and terms of reference; the name of each one; the estimate cost of the taskforce; if she will report on the progress being made by the task force; if they have made any recommendations to her; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3156/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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There is only one Taskforce currently operating in my Department as follows:

In response to the threat posed by the spread of avian influenza and the need to coordinate the development of a robust range of contingency measures, a Government Taskforce on Avian Influenza was established in 2006. It is chaired by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries & Food and, apart from my Department, includes senior representatives from the following Departments/Agencies: Arts, Sports & Tourism; Health & Children; Environment, Heritage & Local Government; Transport; An Garda Síochána; Taoiseach; Defence Forces; Foreign Affairs; Defence; Finance; Health Service Executive; Health Protection Surveillance Centre; and Justice.

The Taskforce has been required to meet on very few occasions, though members are kept advised of developments by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food from time-to-time. Because its membership is drawn exclusively from other Government Departments and State Agencies and given the relatively few occasions on which it has met, there have been little or no costs associated with its establishment. As required, secretariat services are provided by my Department's Animal Health & Welfare Division, as part of their day-to-day work in maintaining contingency arrangements.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 476: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the taskforces established under the auspices of her Department in the past five years; the recommendations made by each taskforce; the progress being made in implementing these recommendations; if specific recommendations have been rejected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3171/08]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 477: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the taskforces established under the auspices of her Department in the past five years; the cost of these taskforces in terms of administrative support, expenses, research and so on; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3186/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 476 and 477 together.

The following taskforces were established in my Department in the past five years:

Mushroom Taskforce

The taskforce was set up in December 2003 to arrive at a consensus on the major issues facing the mushroom sector and to devise a time bound action plan to address those issues in order to secure the future viability of the sector. The task force published its report in May 2004 and its 36 recommendations, which had a time frame of up to 36 months, related to supply arrangements, price transparency, cost reduction, marketing and promotion, training and advisory, research and the environment. A review group met on four occasions to review the implementation of the recommendations by the industry and the State Bodies concerned. The period since publication of the Taskforce Report has been marked by major consolidation in the sector. Increasing the supply of Phase III mushroom compost is the only issue which is still being actively pursued.

Over the five-month duration of the Taskforce, administrative support/secretariat services were provided from existing staff resources within my Department and Plant Health Division. Expenses amounting to €9,620 were incurred for the printing of the Report, a stipend for travel expenses of the Chairman and refreshments at meetings.

Government Taskforce on Avian Influenza

In response to the threat posed by the spread of avian influenza and the need to coordinate the development of a robust range of contingency measures, a Government Taskforce on Avian Influenza was established in 2006.

Because its membership is drawn exclusively from other Government Department and State Agencies and given the relatively few occasions on which it has met, there have been little or no costs associated with its establishment. As required, secretariat services are provided by my Department's Animal Health & Welfare Division, as part of their day-to-day work in maintaining contingency arrangements.