Austin Deasy
Question:2 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the action he intends to take on the basis of the recommendations on the food industry in the Culliton report.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Food Industry Development.
Madeleine Taylor-Quinn
Question:108 Mrs. Taylor-Quinn asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he intends to act on the recommendations of the Culliton report to establish an expert group in order to prepare, within six months, a national food development plan.
Wexford): In general, I favour the overall directions which the Culliton group recommend. That reaction is based on a preliminary examination of the food industry chapter of the group's report. A detailed examination of the various individual recommendations contained in that chapter is currently under way in my Department and pending completion of this I am not in a position to say what action I will take on them.
How long will the study take and when will we have an opportunity to discuss the Culliton report in the House, particularly its food section? It is the most comprehensive report in many years on the food industry and contains some exciting new ideas.
(Wexford): A task force reporting to the Taoiseach and a committee of relevant Ministers has been established to follow up on the recommendations of the Culliton report. This task force will be dealing with the food industry recommendations. We will be hoping that the task force will report back as soon as possible so that we will be in a position to implement their recommendations.
I should appreciate a time schedule as soon as possible.
(Wexford): We will come back to the Deputy on that. The Culliton report recommended six months.
Question No. 3.
On a point of order——
Please do not raise a point of order in the precious time for priority questions. Do you realise what you are doing?
Question No. 2 was taken with Question No. 108. Where is Question No. 108?
It is immaterial. You will get a reply to that. I am dealing with priority questions only.