Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I am delighted to formally establish the office of An Rialálaí Agraibhia today, Wednesday 13th December.

The primary legislation required to establish the Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Act was signed into law by President Higgins on 11 July 2023. Since then the focus was on undertaking the necessary steps to formally commence the Act and establish the Office. The recruitment and appointment of Board members, the drafting of the secondary legislation for the establishment of the Regulator and the necessary logistics for the new Office's accommodation, HR, ICT and Finance have been finalised. I am therefore in a position to commence the Act today and establish the Office.

The CEO Designate, Niamh Lenehan, was appointed in May 2023 and since then was head of the Unfair Trading Practices Enforcement Authority (UTP EA) in my Department. Ms. Lenehan is now CEO of An Rialálaí Agraibhia from establishment day and all UTP enforcement functions transfer from the UTP EA to the new authority.

Following a competition run by the State Boards service of the Public Appointments Service, I appointed the Chairperson, Joe Healy, and the seven ordinary members of the Board with effect from establishment day.

The new office will be located in the Government shared offices in the Backweston Campus, Celbridge, Co Kildare on 13 December 2023 is also the date of the inaugural meeting of the Board.

From establishment day, An Rialálaí Agraibhia will be an independent state body with responsibility for promoting and enforcing the principles of fairness and transparency in the agricultural and food supply chain.

The establishment of this Office fulfils a major ambition set out in the Programme for Government. It is something I championed and secured its inclusion in the Programme for Government, and then advanced it through all stages of the legislative process, into law and now finally to its establishment.