Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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326. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the actions being taken to address rising food prices; the supports available to primary producers and retailers to reduce downstream costs for consumers; whether the Department is reviewing import, export, or market regulation in this context; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51018/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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My Department, including all agencies under the aegis of my Department, has no role in determining or intervening in prices for food commodities at farm-gate or retail level. Market prices are a matter between suppliers and buyers.

However, my Department does monitor the trends in agricultural input and output prices, with recent estimates indicating that trading conditions for farmers have improved significantly following a period of input and output price volatility since late 2020. Compared with July 2024, the Agricultural Output Price Index has increased by 17.2%, while the Input Price Index has risen by 2.0%. The most substantial increases within the Output Price Index were seen in Cattle (+49.6%), Sheep (+12.4%), and Milk (+6.2%).

The Government provides ongoing support to farmers through the €9.8 billion CAP Strategic Plan and other sector-specific supports. Additionally, the Agrifood Regulator ensures compliance with, and enforcement of, unfair trading law along the agri-food supply chain. It also provides information on the agri-food supply chain through the analysis of price and market data.

The import and export of agri-food commodities and marketing of foodstuffs is governed by the general principles and requirements of food law set out in Regulation (EC) No. 178/2002 (General Food Law) and associated Regulations, which are subject to ongoing evaluation at EU level.