Vol. 473 No. 4
567 Mr. H. Byrne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the terms of reference of the advisory group set up by the Minister of State at his Department on organic food production, the members of this group; the date on which the group was set up; the dates of its meetings since it was set up; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1665/97]
The terms of reference for the Organic Consultative Committee are "to advise the Minister of State on all aspects of the organic agriculture and food industry".
The committee has representation from my Department, Teagase, An Bord Bia, an Bord Glas, SFADCo, private organic bodies (IOFGA, Organic Trust Ltd, and Bio Dynamic Agricultural Association), Mountbellew Agricultural College, Sonairte — the National Ecology Centre, the ICMSA and the Agricultural Consultants Association.
The inaugural meeting of the Committee was held on 9 October 1996 and the second meeting has been provisionally arranged for 18 February 1997.
At the committee's inaugural meeting the Minister of State invited all parties to outline their views on how the organic sector can be developed in an orderly, planned way. I see the approach of calling on the experience and expertise of the various organic interests as the best means of developing the sector.
