Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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408. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the correspondence or consultation that has taken place between An Bord Bia and the retailers, a group (details supplied) and the farm organisations regarding the PGI application; if copies of same can be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28022/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Bord Bia operates independently of my Department under its own statutory functions. Any details of  correspondence or consultations between Bord Bia and individual groups regarding the PGI application are an operational matter for that State Body.  The Deputy is invited to contact Bord Bia directly at info@BordBia.ie for any further details on this matter. I can advise however of the following discussions organised by my Department on the development of the draft PGI application with a range of stakeholders, including the organisation named by the Deputy:

- in early 2019, my Department organised a conference on Geographical Indications, with participation by the European Commission, Department officials, Bord Bia, and a range of stakeholders.  The possibility of an application for a PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) for Irish beef was discussed at this workshop.  

- The Irish Beef Sector Agreement negotiated in September 2019 includes a commitment that my Department and Bord Bia should actively engage with the EU Commission on the development of a PGI for Irish beef;

- A Beef TaskForce meeting in June 2020 included a discussion on the draft PGI application;

- In advance of a September 2020 Beef TaskForce meeting, bi-laterals to discuss the PGI application were held by my Department with Beef TaskForce members including the group named and Bord Bia, following which amendments to the PGI documents published on 14 August were circulated;

- A Beef TaskForce meeting discussed the application on 23 September 2020. 

Further consultation will take place with the stakeholders, including at the next Beef Task Force meeting in October.