Vol. 429 No. 3
169 Mr. Harte asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if his Department is associated in any way with a company (details supplied) in Dublin 2; if so, the nature of that relationship; if there is any other associated company involvement; the purposes of the company; and to whom it is accountable.
The company in question was set up and registered with the Registrar of Friendly Societies in 1950 to develop and co-ordinate the exportation of seed potatoes. Its rules provided for two members of the management committee to be nominated by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry.
In order to comply with EC rules on competition, the export monopoly which the company had since its formation in 1950 was terminated in 1986. This enabled other exporters to compete with the company, and the Minister severed his connection with it. Accordingly, the rules of the company were amended in 1987. At that time the company had an interest in one other company and was accountable to its own shareholders. The position is that the Minister has had no function in the affairs of the company since 1987.
