Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 October 2023
492. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide an update on the establishment and work of the new agri-food regulator, An Rialálaí Agraibhia; the number of staff to be employed by the regulator; the positions they will hold; the budget allocated to enable it to operate and for it to engage in its investigative role; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42566/23]
View answerThe Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Act was signed into law by the President on 11 July 2023, The Act provides for a new independent Office, An Rialálaí Agraibhia, which will promote and enforce the principles of fairness and transparency in the agricultural and food supply chain.
Preparations are well underway for the establishment of the new Office. These include the following:
– the CEO designate has been appointed following a Public Appointments Competition and is currently acting as Head of the UTP enforcement Authority pending the establishment of the new Regulator. Since her appointment, the CEO designate has had extensive engagement with a wide range of stakeholders and has been making preparations for the establishment of the new Office.
– The competition for the Chairperson and ordinary board members was advertised by State Boards on 25 July 2023. This competition is now closed and applications are currently being assessed.
– Arrangements for recruitment of staff for the Office are underway and this is being done on a phased basis. It is expected that the Office will be appropriately staffed to coincide with the establishment of the Office. The roles will include an investigation function, a price and market analysis function and a Human Resource/Corporate Affairs and Governance function. Future staff will be for the Board to review as appropriate with the CEO depending on the volume of work that arises for the Regulator.
– Arrangements for an IT function and Accommodation and Finance functions for the new Office are also in preparation.
– I have set aside funding in this year’s budget and the budget for 2024 yet to be announced to enable An Rialálaí to carry out its functions once established.
– In regard to legislative matters needed to be in place for establishment of the Regulator, new Unfair Trading Practice Regulations to replace SI 198 of 2019 are being drafted to allow the UTP enforcement functions currently implemented by the UTP Enforcement Authority in my Department to transfer to the Regulator. Other legal instruments needed to commence the Act and establish the office are also being drafted.
I will give a further update in due course and I want to assure the Deputy that finalisation of the preparations outlined is one of my key priorities.
