Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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138. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress made in relation to the adoption of a new charter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6492/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Farmers Charter Review Group is chaired by an Assistant Secretary General of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and comprised of senior Department officials and representatives of the main farmer representative organisations. The aim of the Review Group is to agree standards and delivery targets for the schemes and services provided by the Department to all its clients including farmers. While negotiations on the new Farmers’ Charter are at an advanced stage there are a number of areas that require further discussion. My Department is endeavouring to achieve consensus with representatives of the main farmer representative organisations on these outstanding issues and to do so in as timely a manner as possible.

Upon finalisation of the new Farmers’ Charter, a Charter Monitoring Committee will be established under an independent chair to monitor Charter targets/commitments.