Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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1049. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the timeframe following the appointment of a national food ombudsman for a consultation with an organisation (details supplied) in regard to the formation of this role, the powers, scope and remit of the ombudsman; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9411/21]

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 is taking a two step approach to the establishment of the NFO. Firstly, a statutory instrument will be drafted to transpose the UTP Directive by the deadline of 1st May 2021. This will provide for an Enforcement Authority which will have the powers as currently provided for in the Directive. The legislative and operational requirements for establishing a new Office of a Food Ombudsman or equivalent that might provide for functions other than those provided for in the UTP Directive are being examined. Primary legislation will be required both to establish this new authority, and to provide for any further powers which may be given to that office. My Department is giving this matter full priority.

It is intended that there will be a national consultation process on the functions of the NFO prior to the primary legislation being enacted.