Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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410. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will extend membership of the monitoring committee for Ireland’s rural development programme 2014 to 2020 to an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43450/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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I met with members of the INHFA on Tuesday, 26 September, and had a wide-ranging discussion with them on many issues including their application for membership of the Monitoring Committee for the Rural Development Programme.

The Monitoring Committee was established at the outset of the Programme in 2015, in accordance with regulatory requirements, and comprises diverse and representative group of stakeholders.  It has not been the practice to co-opt new members during the Programming period, however notwithstanding that I am prepared to consider the INHFA’s request for membership.

In considering the membership of any new group for such an important Committee, it is important the applicant group provides the necessary assurances that it is here for the long-term and is an authoritative and a coherent voice for a representative group of farmers. I discussed this in detail with the INHFA at the recent meeting and agreed the necessary next steps that must be taken in this process. The INHFA has agreed to submit their Articles of Association, number of members and any other supporting documentation/information which speaks to the durability, coherence and permanence of their group. 

On receipt of this correspondence, I will consider the matter further and will as soon as possible revert to the INHFA with my decision. I have also written to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine in relation to this matter and to update on the procedure outlined above, given their support for the INHFA membership of RDP Monitoring Committee.