Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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75. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he expects Government to be in a position to appoint a agri-food independent regulator. [11797/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy may be aware, the Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Bill 2022 was introduced to the Dáil in December 2022, followed by 2nd stage debate on the 19th January 2023. Committee stage was completed on the 15th February 2023 and I hope to bring the Bill to Report Stage shortly.

This Bill provides for the establishment of a new, independent office to enforce the EU Unfair Trading Practices Directive and to provide an independent price and market analysis reporting function. This new office is to be named An Rialálaí Agraibhia, or the Agri-Food Regulator, and shall take over its enforcement functions from the interim Unfair Trading Practices (UTP) Enforcement Authority currently located within my Department.

We are working to establish the Regulator without delay and it will commence its functions as soon as we can navigate the legislative process. The establishment of this Regulator is a key priority.

In the meantime, the interim Enforcement Authority has been assigned all the necessary legal powers to investigate complaints from suppliers of agricultural and food products and to initiate legal proceedings for breaches of the unfair trading practices defined in the UTP Directive.

I would encourage anyone impacted by an unfair trading practice or with any concerns to access the Enforcement Authority’s website www.utp.gov.ie, where complaints can be submitted in confidence online.