Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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778. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a national food ombudsman as per the commitment in the programme for Government (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31027/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Programme for Government includes a commitment to:

Ensure fairness, equity, and transparency in the food chain by establishing a new authority called the National Food Ombudsman (NFO) to enforce the Unfair Trading Practices Directive. This new authority will enforce EU-wide rules on prohibited unfair trading practices in the food supply chain and will have powers to enforce this Directive, penalising those who breach regulations. The NFO will have a specific role in analysing and reporting on price and market data in Ireland.

My Department will be drafting the legislation needed to establish the Office of the National Food Ombudsman in 2021, and the 2021 Budget includes an initial provision of €1 million to assist with start up costs.