Vol. 497 No. 2
108 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason the Irish Cattlemen and Stock Owners Association and consumer interests have not been nominated to form part of the study group examining the beef processing industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25094/98]
133 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will consider allocating two places on the beef task force to the Irish Cattle Traders and Stockowners Association as requested by it; the membership of the task force; and its terms of reference. [24446/98]
154 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason he has not included the Dry Stock Farmers Association on the new beef task force. [24578/98]
178 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the way in which the consumer is represented on the task force on the beef industry established recently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24709/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 108, 133, 154, and 178 together.
The terms of reference of the task force which were agreed by the group at its first meeting on 18 November are:
to devise an action plan for the development of the beef industry covering the whole sector from primary production through to processing and marketing with a view to enabling the sector to overcome the obstacles impeding its development and to generate better returns from markets.
The members of the beef task force are drawn from senior levels within the production and processing sectors of the beef industry as well as from the relevant organisations servicing the industry. The membership is as follows: John Malone (Chairman), Secretary General, Department of Agriculture and Food; Tom Moran, Assistant Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Food; Tom Parlon, President IFA; Michael Berkery, General Secretary IFA; Raymond O'Malley, Chairman IFA Beef Committee; Tom McAndrew, Chairman Irish Meat Association; John Smith, Chief Executive Irish Meat Association; Tom MacParland, Managing Director, Kildare Chilling; Dan Browne, Managing Director, Dawn Meats; Liam McGreal, Managing Director, Kepak; Frank Allen, President ICMSA; John Cunningham, ICOS — Dairygold; Michael Duffy, Chief Executive, An Bord Bia; Mike Feeney, Enterprise Ireland; John Kane, National Industrial Secretary, SIPTU; Donal Carey, Teagasc; Paddy Moore, Personal Adviser to Minister Walsh.
Executive Co-ordination-Secretariat: Derek Breen, (Enterprise Ireland); Aidan Cotter (An Bord Bia); Richard Healy and Jarlath Coleman (Department of Agriculture and Food).
As I indicated in my reply to Questions Nos. 12, 27 and 39 on 12 November, the composition of the task force strikes the correct balance and will bring the necessary expertise to bear on the issues which need to be addressed if the beef industry is to achieve its full potential.
As the group is already at what I would consider to be the outer limit in size for effectiveness, I am unable to make any further additions. However, I have made it clear that organisations or bodies which are not represented directly on the task force are invited to make written or oral submissions to the task force through the Secretariat, should they wish to do so.
With regard to consumer representation I am satisfied the make up of the task force, including Bord Bia, the statutory agency responsible for promotion on domestic and international markets, will take full account of consumer interests. I am also satisfied that the interests of beef producers are adequately repesented on the task force.
