Vol. 416 No. 7
12 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will consider the establishment of a national agricultural development authority to, (1) draw up a national development plan for Irish agriculture, (2) develop markets for value-added Irish agricultural products, especially green products and (3) ensure the development of processing facilities, and if he will make a statement on the matter.
, Wexford): The Government have given a commitment in the Programme for Economic and Social Progress to review agriculture and food policies in consultation with the farm organisations, with a view to drawing up a national development programme for our agricultural and food sector. The programme would, of course, take account of the outcome of the Common Agricultural Policy reform and GATT negotiations and would address, among other things, the need to develop markets for value-added and “green” products. A group representative of the Department of Agriculture and Food and the farm and agricultural organisations have commenced work on the programme. The group aim to complete its work in six months. It will deal directly with the three areas referred to in Deputy Sherlock's question.
Deputy Sherlock's question specifically asked whether the Government would consider establishing a national agricultural development authority on lines similar to the Industrial Development Authority, which would not work in precisely the same way, but which would have responsibility for co-ordinating the various interests who often vie with each other for resources and markets. Given the new environment with regard to markets within which this industry will have to operate, certainly from the end of this year under whatever regime develops from the GATT negotiations — would the Minister not agree there is urgent need for co-ordination of the industry?
(Wexford): I would agree with the Deputy. Indeed, from my three weeks in the Department I notice that there would appear to be overlapping, with a number of agencies dealing with the same subject. Therefore I agree with the Deputy that there is urgency for a rationalisation of the overall area. But we must await the report of the committee established to deal with the matter. Since this forms part of the Programme for Economic and Social Progress agreement it would be wrong of us to pre-empt their report to the Department.
When does the Minister expect that report in view of the urgency to which he admits?
(Wexford): The group aim to complete their work in approximately six months.
