Ivor Callely
Question:21 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the recommendations of the expert's group report on the food industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13738/96]
Written Answers. - Expert Group and Food Industry Report.
The report of the expert group on the food industry, which was published in April 1993, made some 58 recommendations. These recommendations have been very substantially implemented. Two key recommendations were: to establish a single food promotion agency; and to provide integrated funding arrangements for the food sector through a single operational programme, covering investment aid, marketing and promotion, research and development and training.
These recommendations were fully implemented by the establishment of An Bord Bia on 1 December 1994 and the publication in February 1995 of the Food Sub-Programme 1994-1999, involving State EU and Industry funding of £641 million.