Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

53. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review the powers of the food regulator, An Rialálaí Agraibhia, to ensure family farm incomes are protected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25761/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am very proud to be the Minister that established Ireland's first independent Agri Food Regulator, An Rialálaí Agraibhia, last December following the enactment of the Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Act 2023.

The Regulator has an important role to promote fairness and transparency in the agricultural and food supply chain.

Importantly in the context of the Deputy's question, the Act provides that, in exercising that function, the Regulator shall, in particular, have regard to the circumstances and needs of farming businesses, as well as fishing business and small food businesses.

The powers already included in the Act allow the Agri Food Regulator to fulfil that role.

Powers assigned to the Regulator include an enforcement function to protect farmers and food suppliers against a range of unfair trading practices by buyers including for example for late payments and short-notice cancellations. It is open to farmers who consider that an unfair trading practice is occurring to submit a complaint to the Agri Food Regulator: such complaints will be fully investigated. In addition to investigating complaints, the Regulator has the power, on its own initiative, to inspect buyers of agricultural and food products.

The Regulator also has a role in analysing and publishing information about price and market data relating to the agricultural and food supply chain. This is with a view to increasing fairness and transparency to help improve decision-making by farmers and other food suppliers. EU research shows that ensuring that clearer market signals are passed upwards along the food supply chain can help farmers reduce the costs of reacting to the market and adjust investment.

These key functions and related activities of the Regulator, such as raising awareness with all stakeholders across the agri-food supply chain of the illegality of unfair trading practices, help to support farmers decision making and ensure that they are treated fairly when selling their produce.

I have also put in place a range of supports to protect family farm incomes, including the largest ever €10 billion CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) and in consultation with my colleague Minister McGrath, through Agri Taxation supports.

As I mentioned, the Regulator was newly established six months ago. Since then it has engaged in a range of activities to promote and enforce fairness and transparency in the agricultural and food supply chain for the benefit of farmers and others. I do not see any reason at this time to review the powers of the Agri-Food Regulator under the Act or Regulations made under the Act.