'The Agri-Food Regulator will be an office with real teeth' - Daly

Senator Paul Daly has welcomed the news that the Cabinet has approved for presentation to Dáil Éireann a bill to establish a new body to regulate the agri-food sector.

This Bill, when enacted, will establish a new independent statutory Authority which will be known as An Rialtóir Agraibhia (The Agri-Food Regulator). The legislation is being progressed by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue

Senator Daly says that government approval for the Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Bill "fulfils a Programme for Government commitment to ensure fairness, equity, and transparency in the food chain by establishing a new authority".

“The Agri Food Regulator will be an office with real teeth that will be a strong advocate for farmers, fishers and all food producers.

“It will shine a light on the sector to help improve the position of the primary producer and it will also bring greater transparency and fairness. The regulator will promote and enforce the principles of fairness and transparency for agri-food suppliers.

“Many of the recommendations of the pre-legislative scrutiny report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine are provided for in the Bill.

“It is great that the bill can now be presented before the Dáil and move to the next stage of the legislative process. I know it is the intention of the Minister to have An Rialtóir Agraibhia up and running and soon as possible.

“Today is a good day for the food producers of Ireland as they know that we are step closer to the establishment of the Agri Food Regulator. This is also an important step forward in bringing forward this office which is a key Programme for Government commitment.”