Desmond J. O'Malley
Ceist:14 Mr. O'Malley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the steps, if any, the Government will take under article 4 of EC Regulation 729/70, as amended, to designate an authority or body other than the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, to act as the intervention agency in Ireland, as is the case in most other EU member states, in view of the shortcomings exhibited by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry in carrying out its duties and obligations arising under EU regulations. [3512/96]