Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 January 2016
94. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of money his Department has paid in salaries for the farmers charter review group and for the farmers charter monitoring committee form their inception to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3449/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraA Farmers’ Charter Review Group was set up in 2014 with a view to agreeing a new Farmers’ Charter of Rights. The Farmers Charter Review Group was chaired by an Assistant Secretary General of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and comprised of senior Department officials and representatives of the main farmer representative organisations. Following on from positive engagement by all parties, negotiations between my Department and the main farming organisations on a new Farmers’ Charter of Rights concluded on Thursday 11 June 2015 with consensus achieved on the Charter.
The new Charter will remain in place until 2020 coinciding with the lifetime of the current Pillar I and Pillar II schemes.
There were no additional salary costs to my Department in respect of the Farmers’ Charter of Rights Review Group. Officials of my Department carried out work in relation to the Farmers’ Charter of Rights Review Group as part of their day to day work.
A Farmers’ Charter of Rights Monitoring Committee has now been established under an independent chair to monitor agreed targets and standards. This Committee is comprised of representatives of the farm organisations and staff of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
Again there are no additional salary costs to my Department in respect of the Farmers’ Charter of Rights Monitoring Committee. Officials of my Department carry out work in relation to the Farmers’ Charter of Rights Monitoring Committee as part of their day to day work.
The Monitoring Committee has met on one occasion since its establishment and a fee of €377 was paid to the Chairman for his chairmanship of this Monitoring Committee meeting.
