Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 29 Feb 1996

Vol. 462 No. 4

Written Answers. - EU Agriculture Regulations.

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]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Mr. Yates)

There are no plans at present to set up an authority other than my Department as the intervention agency in Ireland, nor has the European Commission recommended or suggested the establishment of any such authority here.

In the context of the implementation of the Strategic Management Initiative, however, a re-organisation group is currently reviewing the organisational structure of my Department. The group's brief includes the consideration of establishing executive units to carry out various executive functions, including those related to intervention operations. Finally, under Article 4 of Council regulations (EEC) No. 729/70 as amended, only accredited paying agencies may disburse EAGGF guarantee funds with effect from 16 October 1995. I have, in accordance with Article 1 (4) of Commission Regulation 1663/95, provisionally accredited my Department with effect from that date. The European Commission has been notified of this, and has expressed no reservations about the basis on which provisional accreditation has been granted.