Phil Hogan
Question:56 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he has set up a steering group to act as a driving force for the organic sector as outlined in reply to Parliamentary Question No. 10 of 20 June 2002. [3969/03]
Written Answers. - Organic Farming.
The national steering group for the organic sector met twice, in December 2002 and again this week. I am very pleased that Mr. John Duggan, the former chairman of Glanbia, accepted my invitation to act as chairman of the group. Twenty organisations are represented on the group and its wide-ranging composition provides a basis for advancing the partnership between the organic sector itself and the other principal essential interests. At its second meeting earlier this week, the steering group established the two other additional structures recommended by the organic development committee, the organic market development group and the partnership expert working group. These will report regularly to the national steering group which in turn will keep me informed of developments.