Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 3 Oct 2000

Vol. 523 No. 1

Written Answers. - Departmental Bodies

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

386 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the committees, boards, companies or other bodies under the auspices of his Department which were established pursuant to statutory instrument; if he will give details of the statutory instrument in each case; if there are any proposals to have the body in question given a basis in statute as opposed to statutory instrument; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19665/00]

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

387 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the committees, boards, companies or other bodies under the auspices of his Department which were established otherwise than pursuant to statute or statutory instrument; if there are any proposals to have the body in question given a statutory basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19680/00]

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

388 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the committees, boards, companies or other bodies under the auspices of his Department which it is proposed to establish; if it is intended that each such body will have a statutory basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19695/00]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Mr. Walsh):

I propose to take Questions Nos. 386, 387 and 388 together.

My Department's audit committee was established under Statutory Instrument No. 274 of 1994.

The following committees/bodies were established by my Department on a non-statutory basis: the Agri-Food 2010 Committee; the Beef Task Force; the Sheepmeat Forum; the monitoring committee on implementation of the recommendations of the sheep forum; the technical committee on meat inspection fees; the food agency co-operation council; the food quality assurance schemes review group.; the task force on agricultural education and training; the strategy group for the pig industry; the Agenda 2000 consultative group; the interdepartmental committee on dangerous and exotic animals; the inter-agency group re silvermines investigation; the BSE scientific advisory committee; the equine liaison committee; and the monitoring committee under the protocol on direct payment to farmers. I do not consider it necessary to establish the above on a statutory basis.

My Department intends to establish the following body on a statutory basis – the agriculture appeals office. My Department also intends to establish the advisory forum on farm animal welfare, initially on a non-statutory basis. In due course, the question of whether such a body should be placed on a statutory footing will be considered. Amendments to the Irish Horserac ing Industry Act, 1994 are currently being considered. These amendments include the establishment of a new state body to replace the Irish Horseracing Authority established under that Act.