Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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902. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps that will be taken to ensure that the proposed An Bord Bia farm sustainability platform development will not impose further demands on farmers for meeting further quality and environmentally friendly requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6627/20]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that all issues relating to the Bord Bia Sustainable Quality Assurance Programmes are an operational matter for that organisation.  

However, I have been advised by Bord Bia that the primary objective of the proposed platform is to enable the Irish agri-sector to quantify and co-ordinate the totality of sustainability activity on Irish farms, and enable the recognition and quantification of the work that is already being done by farmers through their participation in existing programmes.

I understand that Bord Bia has decided that the tender process for a service provider to the Farm Sustainability Programme will be postponed by a minimum of two months to allow for further consultation.