Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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1864. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will report on his Department's engagement with the European Food Security Crisis preparedness and response mechanism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19532/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Expert Group of the European Food Security Crisis preparedness and response Mechanism (EFSCM) is a permanent forum group of food supply chain experts coordinated by the European Commission which aims at improving coordination efforts by European and national administrations as well as relevant non-EU countries and private stakeholders to ensure food supply and food security in times of crisis. My Department has a permanent delegate and an alternate delegate who represent Ireland on the EFSCM.  

Member State delegates are expected to be the single point of contact in their respective countries with responsibility for coordinating stakeholder contributions. The EFSCM commenced its work on 9th March 2022, and intends, as a priority action, to carry out a thorough mapping of risks and vulnerabilities of the EU food supply chain, followed by recommendations and appropriate mitigation measures.

Implementation of the EFSCM is the principal action under the auspices of the Contingency Plan for ensuring  Food Supply and Food Security in times of crises. Following the COVID-19 crisis and under the auspices of the Farm to Fork Strategy, the Contingency Plan was developed to ensure that EU citizens do not face food shortages during crises. Expert meetings in respect of the Contingency Plan were convened by the EU Commission between January and July 2021. Officials from my Department contributed to these meetings and prepared submissions to inform development of the Plan.  The Contingency Plan for Food Supply and Food Security formally adopted by EU Commission in November 2021 and the EFSCM was published on the Register of Expert Groups on 10 December 2021.

A full list of participating Member States, Third Countries, organisations and institutions comprising the EFSCM, and details of meetings, is available at the Register of Commission expert groups and other similar entities (europa.eu).