Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 December 2019
468. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason members of an association (details supplied) are not included in the stakeholder committee that will develop the agrifood strategy to 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51181/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI was pleased to announce the membership of the Stakeholder Committee that will develop Ireland's agri-food strategy to 2030, under the chairmanship of Mr Tom Arnold. The strategy will outline the vision and key objectives, with associated actions, required to ensure the economic, environmental and social sustainability of the agri-food sector in the decade ahead.
In deciding on the membership of the Committee, I was mindful of ensuring a broad representation of stakeholders from right across the agriculture, food, forestry and fisheries sectors. It was not possible to include all interested groups on the Committee and I have not included professional representative bodies on the group. I am satisfied that the current composition is sufficiently representative and I have no plans to extend membership outside of those already nominated.
The association concerned made a submission to the public consultation process which I launched in July and participated in the Open Policy Debate which I hosted for 400 delegates from across the Irish agri-food sector in the Aviva Stadium in October.
