Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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370. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of work being carried out to establish the office of the national food ombudsman; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35897/20]

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 to enforce the Unfair Trading Practices (UTP) Directive, which must be transposed into Irish law by 1 May 2021; and to have a specific role in analysing and reporting on price and market data in Ireland.

A two-step approach is being adopted to this commitment.

Firstly, my Department is currently preparing a proposal for a Statutory Instrument to directly transpose the UTP Directive as it stands. Secondly, the legal requirements for the establishment of a new Office of a Food Ombudsman are also being considered, including the requirement for primary legislation in order to give that Office additional powers going beyond those in the UTP Directive.

The 2021 Budget includes an initial provision of €1 million to assist with the start up costs for this new office.