Vol. 395 No. 9
145 Mr. Nealon asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the title and terms of reference of each commission, committee, working group or other similar body set up since 1 January 1986 to advise him on the policy or functions of his Department; the nature of each body, that is, whether it is permanent or ad hoc; when each ad hoc body reported; its recommendations; and the action, if any, which has been taken or is being taken in regard to same.
The following tabular statement sets out the information requested by the Deputy.
|
Title, Establishment and Type of Group |
Terms of Reference |
Recommendations |
Action Taken |
|
(1) Horse Breeding Advisory Committee.Established: December 1989.Type: Ad Hoc. |
In relation to the national programme for the development of the non-thorough bred horse industry—advise on policy and objectives and make recommendations particularly in the breeding and production areas of the programme. |
None as yet. |
Not applicable. |
|
(2) Agriculture and Food Policy Review Group.Established: November 1989.Type:Ad Hoc. |
(i) To describe the present situation in the agriculture and food sector and review current public policy for the sector.(ii) to specify key objectives for the agriculture and food sector for 1995 and recommend the major policies to be used in working towards those objectives. |
Due mid-1990. |
Not applicable. |
|
(3) Special Group to review the GATT Negotiations (GATT Forum). Established: October 1988. Type: Ad Hoc. |
To keep Irish agricultural and food interests informed of developments in the negotiations and to provide a forum where they can put forward views on an on-going basis. |
Ongoing update of policy. |
Ongoing policy review. |
|
(4) Working Group (set up to examine feasibility of National Food Hall).Established: November 1987.Type: Ad Hoc. |
To examine the feasibility of setting up a commercially viable National Food Hall. |
Report in July 1989.Recommended setting up of a National Food Hall. |
Negotiations have taken place with a prospective company with a view to setting up a National Food Hall. |
|
(5) Milk Quota Review Group.Established: April 1988.Type: Ad Hoc. |
(i) To review all the national arrangements for the quota system made from the initial distribution of the quota among co-operatives and dairies and(ii) to indicate the changes that might be made in Community rules as background to the Irish input into the review of the quota arrangements to which the Council of Agricultural Ministers is committed in 1990-91. |
The Report of the Milk Quota Review Group to the Minister was published in January 1989. Its recommendations are both general in terms of the overall policy and specific in relation to rules for implementing the quota arrangements. |
The Minister has accepted and acted on those recommendations which were within his power to implement. Recommendations involving changes in EC regulations have been taken up with the EC Commission. |
|
(6) Ad Hoc group on the future options for Siúicre Éireann.Established: September 1989.Type: Ad Hoc. |
To prepare a report on all the options for the future of Siúicre Éireann cpt including diversification with a minimum of financial risk, for consideration by the Government at an early date. |
Not yet complete. |
Not applicable. |
|
(7) Ad Hoc group on Code of Practice for Lamb.Established: August 1987.Type: Ad Hoc. |
To consider introducing Code of Practice for Lamb. |
Introduction of a Voluntary Code of Practice for the Industry. |
Implemented. |
|
(8) Ad Hoc group on Code of Practice for Poultry and Eggs. |
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|
Established: December 1988.Type: Ad Hoc. |
To consider introducing Code of Practice for Poultry and Eggs. |
Introduction of a Voluntary Code of Practice for the Industry. Report in March 1988.Main recommendations:1. A review to be undertaken by the IDA, in association with the industry, to assess the potential for rationalisation and more economic use of existing capacity in feed compound manufacture and to highlight the benefits to be derived therefrom.2. Setting of standards for feedingstuffs by the Department of Agriculture and Food.3. Permission by the Veterinary Services of the Department of Agriculture and Food to allow in, initially on a trial basis, Corona negative hysterectomised bonhams.4. Introduction on an industry-wide basis of incentives for expanding pig production.5. The setting out of clearly stated guidelines on neat slurry production to assist local authorities in considering planning applications.6. Mandatory application of lean meat grading standards and the implementation by the industry of payment for pigs on the basis of lean meat/weight.7. Installation of weigh bridges by factories.8. Formulation of marketing strategies by individual firms.9. CBF to devise an overall market development strategy for both home and export markets. |
Implemented. |
|
(9) Ad Hoc Pig Production Group.Established: 1987.Type: Ad Hoc. |
To assess what measures are needed to ensure the success of the major programme for development of the pigmeat industry (involving a total investment of £140 million) which had been announced in 1987. |
Some of the recommendations have been implemented and others are under examination. |
|
|
(10) Joint Expert Advisory Committee of Food and Zoonotic Diseases.Established: 1989.Type: Ad Hoc. |
To advise the Minister for Agriculture and Food and the Minister for Health on matters relating to food and zoonotic diseases referred to it and to make recommendations to the Minister. |
In January 1990 three reports were submitted.The main conclusions and recommendations are:1. Listeria: The report outlines the main foods which can transmit listeria to man and calls for high standards of safety and hygiene in food production and preparation and recommends that groups in society most at risk be made aware of the hazard of listeriosis and preventative measures. 2. Food irradiation: The report underlines the potential of food irradiation in combination with good basic standards of hygiene practice as a means of preserving food and reducing the threat of food borne diseases and recommends acceptance of current EC proposals in relation to controls on food irradiation.3. Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE): The report concludes that there is no evidence to suggest that BSE or scrapie is transmissible to humans. |
The recommendations and conclusions contained in each report are currently being examined in so far as each Department is concerned. |
