Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

107. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will be nominating a person representing the large multiple supermarkets to the board of the National Milk Agency, at the inception of the new term for members of this board, which is due for renewal in December 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36287/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Milk (Regulation of Supply) Act, 1994, allows for the appointment by the Minister of ordinary members of the board of the National Milk Agency nominated by processor, distributor, retail and consumer interests. There is currently one retail sector representative on the board and this has been the practice since the establishment of the Agency. The National Milk Agency (Members) Regulation, S.I. No. 234 of 1995, sets down the prescribed number of ordinary members from each sector as follows:- consumers – one; retailers – one; distributors – one; processors – four; producers – five. The Milk (Regulation of Supply) Amendment Act, 1996, increased the number of members to be nominated by consumer interests to at least two.

Appointments are ordinarily for a term of three years and the next renewal is due in December 2015. It is open to the retail interests mentioned by you to seek to nominate a representative for consideration for appointment at that time. Any request from retail or other interest groups wishing to nominate an additional representative to the Board should be forwarded to my Department for consideration.