Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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119. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on the last beef forum meeting; when the forum is due to meet again; and the main items on the agenda. [24005/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I established the Beef Forum last year in order to bring all relevant stakeholders together and to facilitate open discussion between industry, farming organisations and others on the strategic path forward for the beef sector. The Forum has met on 5 occasions, including in November last year when the stakeholders agreed to a broad range of outcomes which address issues of concern for the sector in areas such as weight and age specifications, the Quality Payment system, live exports and producer organisations. The Forum allows stakeholders to engage in a positive way on strategic goals for the sector. As an example, the most recent meeting of the Forum held in February proposed the preparation of written guidelines for beef farmers which would act as a blueprint for those currently producing bull beef or those considering developing bull and other beef production systems, taking into account production efficiency and market dynamics. There was also general consensus at February’s Forum meeting that good progress was being made in delivering on the outcomes agreed at the November meeting, accompanied by a commitment from all participants to continue this work.

We have seen the benefits that the forum can bring with positive co-operation from all of the stakeholders. In order to build on the progress made, another meeting of the Beef Roundtable is scheduled and I expect to be able to confirm the date in the coming days. The meeting includes a discussion on Producer Organisations, and the current market situation, and I am finalising other elements of the agenda at present.