Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 November 2004
39 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if her Department’s consumer liaison panel has taken further steps to address the lack of transparency in food pricing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29320/04]
View answer72 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the nature and objectives of her Department’s investigation into high food prices here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29319/04]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 39 and 72 together.
My Department is providing funding to the consumer liaison panel from the food institutional research programme to enable the panel to commission an independent study to assess the data sources on the price of food in Ireland and to recommend a model for monitoring the share of the price of key foods absorbed at different stages of the food chain. The consumer liaison panel was established to facilitate and strengthen communications between consumers and the Department and consists of representatives of the Consumers Association of Ireland, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, the Irish Countrywomen's Association, the voluntary and community sector platform and representatives of the consumer base of the major food retail outlets.
The consumer liaison panel sought to have this independent study carried out as it was concerned at the lack of solid price data at various stages of the food chain which has made it difficult to reach conclusions on the share of the final retail price going to each sector along the price chain. I understand that tenders have been received and I look forward to the outcome of the study, which I am hopeful will bring a much clearer understanding of food price formation.
