asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will have a look at the legislation setting up the Pigs and Bacon Commission and the arrangements for periodically re-electing the board with a view to specifying who is the convening authority; and what procedure is to be followed when the nominating bodies meet to decide who will be the two persons to represent them on the board.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Pigs and Bacon Commission.
14.
I am prepared to examine, when the occasion for amending the Pigs and Bacon Acts presents itself, the matters raised by the Deputy, viz. specifying the convening authority for meetings of the producer nominating bodies and the procedure to be followed at such meetings.
Does the Minister accept that the situation as it stands is unsatisfactory?
I do. It would appear that the producers' organisations have not been able to come to an agreement as to who will represent them on the Pigs and Bacon Commission. I would hope that even at this late stage they will come to such an agreement. I accept what the Deputy says and I accept that the present arrangement is unsatisfactory.
Is the Minister aware that there is no one of these nominating authorities specified for convening the meeting to make this decision and that, in fact, they have met recently and have not agreed?
Yes, and as a consequence they have not been able to come to an agreement as to who will represent them on the Pigs and Bacon Commission.
Could the Minister tell the House how anti-pig smuggling officers are appointed?
That is a separate question.