Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The composition of the Teagasc Authority is set out in the Agriculture (Research, Training and Advice) Act of 1988 (Teagasc Act). It provides for a governing Authority comprising of a Chairman, and 10 ordinary members who have knowledge or experience in agriculture, agricultural research, education, and food processing. The current Authority has representatives from the farming organisations, the food industry, the universities, the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine and Teagasc staff.

As Minister, I appoint all of the members of the Teagasc Authority. The Chairman and four ordinary members are appointed following a competitive process overseen by the Public Appointments Service. Five ordinary members are appointed on the nomination of organisations that represent persons engaged in agriculture etc. Those organisations are the Irish Farmers Association, Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association, Irish Co-operative Organisation Society, Macra na Feirme and a Teagasc staff representative. I also appoint a senior civil servant from my Department to the Authority.

I am satisfied that Teagasc's governing legislation provides for strong stakeholder representation on the Teagasc Authority from both the farming community and wider agri-food industry. Accordingly, I have no plans to amend the Teagasc Act to expand the number of ordinary members on the Authority.

The table below details the current membership of the Authority.