Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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21. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the proposals, if any, to have further discussions at the Council of Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers in relation to the need to protect food production in the EU and ensure food security; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34705/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Support for sustainable food production in the European Union, and the need to ensure food security for our citizens, is an ongoing and core element of discussions at the Council of Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers.

During these discussions I have continually emphasised the central role of the Common Agriculture Policy in underpinning EU agriculture and food security. The CAP must continue to support sustainable food production and the provision of ecosystem services, as well as maintaining its core function of ensuring food security, as outlined in the Treaties. The efficient management of our ongoing transition to a more sustainable farming and fisheries model will support long-term food availability. It is also vitally important that, as we consider longer-term food security and manage this transition, we do not take our current agricultural production systems for granted.

I have also stressed that ongoing support through the CAP is essential to help farmers maintain their resilience as they respond to unstable markets and ensure food security.

In this regard, the illegal Russian invasion of Ukraine and its impact on agri-food markets has been a standing item of discussion. Fluctuation in prices both of inputs and for commodities are challenging for farmers to manage, and I have noted and welcomed the Commission’s presentation of support packages to address these difficulties over the last eighteen months. Recently, I have highlighted the need for support for the Irish tillage and horticulture sectors, who are facing particular challenges.

The correct functioning of the Single Market is also a crucial enabler of food security. This has been demonstrated by our experiences through both the Covid and Ukraine crises. I have stressed at the Council that this must continue to be central to the response at EU level.

Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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22. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide on update on the actions he is taking to deliver transparency in the food supply chain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34771/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I have undertaken a number of actions to deliver transparency in the food supply chain.

The Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Bill that I introduced to the Dáil in December 2022, and which was signed into law by the President on Tuesday, 11 July, provides for a new independent Office, An Rialálaí Agraibhia, which will be a lead voice in promoting, and indeed enforcing, the principles of fairness and transparency in the agricultural and food supply chain.

This landmark legislation, which I have personally led out on since being in opposition, demonstrates my long-standing commitment to bring increased fairness and transparency to the agricultural and food supply chain. A key Programme for Government Commitment, this office has a particular regard for farmers, fishers and small food businesses.

The Act provides that the new Office will do this in a number of ways:

- it will perform a price and market analysis and reporting function to bring greater transparency all along the agricultural and food supply chain

- it will engage with retailers, processors, wholesalers, farmers, fishers, and others on matters effecting fairness and transparency in the agri-food supply chain,

- as the State’s designated Unfair Trading Practices Enforcement Authority, An Rialálaí Agraibhia will be responsible for ensuring that buyers in the agri-food supply chain do not employ unfair practices in their business-to-business relationship with their suppliers. The Act provides wide ranging powers for authorised officers to investigate Unfair Trading Practices.

In summary, An Rialálaí Agraibhia will bring greater transparency and fairness all along the supply chain.

In addition, pending the establishment of the Regulator and in order to ensure compliance with the deadline for transposition of the EU Directive 2019/633, in April 2021 I introduced regulations under Statutory Instrument No. 198 of 2021 prohibiting a range of unfair trading practices (or UTPs) and established, on an interim basis, the Unfair Trading Practices Enforcement Authority in my Department.

The Enforcement Authority has, since its establishment, worked to increase transparency in the agri-food supply chain through an extensive outreach approach aimed at building stakeholder awareness and understanding of the Regulations and specifically the rights of suppliers and obligations on buyers.

In addition, my Department collects a range of data which it submits to the EU Market Observatories, including processor prices paid to primary producers in a range of sectors. Other animal production data is reported to the CSO including slaughter numbers and carcass weights. Much of this information is also made publicly available on my Department's website, and it forms the basis for the Bord Bia market tracker and the DAFM Pricewatch App for the beef sector.

I am committed to bringing greater transparency to the agricultural and food supply chain to assist primary producers in their decision making and to ensure suppliers all along the supply chain get a fair deal.