Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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1950. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps being taken to ensure that proper regulation and fairness is applied to beef factories to ensure that beef farmers are properly paid for their produce; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14134/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, there is a commitment in the Programme for Government for the establishment of a new authority called the National Food Ombudsman (NFO) to enforce the Unfair Trading Practices (UTP) Directive. The NFO, whose remit will include the beef sector, will have a specific role in analysing and reporting on price and market data in Ireland.  It is important to be aware, however, that the Ombudsman will not be able to determine commodity prices. I expect to launch a public consultation on the NFO in the coming weeks. 

Establishment of the NFO is ongoing and firstly requires the drafting of a statutory instrument to transpose the UTP directive before the deadline of May 2021. Legislation is then required to establish the new office of the NFO. It is intended that there will be a national consultation process on the functions of the NFO  prior to the primary legislation being enacted.

Neither the NFO, nor any public authority, will have the power to determine the price paid by meat processors.