Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 January 2024
1263. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the Office for Fairness and Transparency in the Agri Food Supply Chain is operational; what staff are currently employed; and to detail work that has been undertaken. [1542/24]
View answerThe Office of the Agri-Food Regulator is now fully operational.
The Programme for Government contained a commitment for an independent statutory body to enforce the unfair trading practices outlined in Directive EU 2019/633 and to provide a price and market analysis function to increase fairness and transparency in the Agri-Food supply chain. Pending the finalisation of the primary legislation required to establish the new authority, the Unfair Trading Practices Enforcement Authority (UTPEA) was established on an interim basis in my Department.
The legislation required to establish the new independent office, the Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Act 2023, was signed into law by President Higgins on 11th July 2023. This marked the end of a constructive legislative process which allowed for the passing of a bill that included very strong powers of enforcement and investigation. The office is now known as An Rialálaí Agraibhia (The Agri-Food Regulator).
The Chairperson and seven ordinary members of the board of An Rialálaí Agraibhia were appointed following a competition held by the State Boards Public Appointments Service. The Board had their first meeting on 13th December 2023, the establishment day of the new office.
The CEO-designate was appointed on 22nd May 2023, initially taking over as head of the interim Unfair Trading Practices Enforcement Authority, and became CEO of An Rialálaí Agraibhia on establishment day.
The functions of the UTPEA transferred to An Rialálaí Agraibhia on establishment day.
Now that the Regulator has been established recruitment is being conducted on a phased basis.
The Deputy may wish to contact the Agri-Food Regulator directly for information on operational matters and they can be contacted by email at info@agrifoodregulator.ie.
