Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine to meet for Pre-Legislative Scrutiny of Agriculture Appeals (Amendment) Bill 2024

The meeting at 9.30am in Committee Room 1 of Leinster House will hear from representatives from the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA), the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA), Irish Cattle & Sheep Farmers’ Association (ICSA) and Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association (INHFA).

Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Jackie Cahill said: “The general scheme of the Agriculture Appeals (Amendment) Bill 2024 was approved by the Government last month and referred to the Joint Committee for pre-legislative scrutiny. The draft bill proposes the establishment of an independent Agriculture Appeals Review Panel and to introduce amendments to the Agriculture Appeals Act 2001, including the introduction of timeframes for the seeking of reviews on appeal decisions.

“The legislation further proposes an amendment to the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1997 to remove the age limit, of 70 years, provided for the Chair and members of the Aquaculture Licensing Appeals Board (ALAB) to vacate their office. The Committee looks forward to examining the heads of this Bill with the farmers’ representatives and reporting our conclusions and recommendations to the Minister.”

The Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine has 14 Members, nine from the Dáil and five from the Seanad.

The meeting in Committee Room 1 can be viewed live on Oireachtas TV.

Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.