TD: Food regulator has done ‘tangible' work but concern remains
A TD has said that the Agri-Food Regulator (An Rialálaí Agraibhia) has done 'tangible' work since its formation, but concern remains over obstacles to food suppliers engaging with the regulator.
Independent TD Carol Nolan has described the work of the regulator to date as 'a tangible and hopeful indication that real progress is being made on redressing the financial power imbalance that has traditionally existed between farmers, suppliers and the retail sector'.
She was speaking after attending the inaugural conference of the Agri-Food Regulator today (Tuesday, May 20).
'I have been consistently engaging with the work of the regulator, and indeed its precursor structure, the unfair trading practices (UTP) Enforcement Authority… So I'm delighted that it continues to operate with the level of forceful commitment that we all need to see.'
However, Nolan also said: 'I do find it concerning, however, that issues I would have raised in June 2022 around fear of retaliation from the large retailers is still leading to lower-than expected levels of complaints being made.'
Today's conference saw the presentation of the regulator's first Supplier Survey, which the body is aiming to carry out on an annual basis going forward.
'The feedback from the Supplier Survey findings that were discussed at the conference made it clear that there is still quite a way to go in terms of gaining the trust of farmers to lodge complaints if they feel they are being targeted with unfair trading practices,' she added.
The Offaly TD acknowledged that some retailers 'are being much more proactive about this'.
'But what we really need to see is an equality of approach right across the board from all of the major [retailers].
Nolan called for the Agri-Food Regulator to be sufficiently staffed and resourced.
'We have the skeleton of an enforcement authority that is doing great work with what it has, but we now need to put proper flesh on the bones. That means more funding and more staff and if need be, more wide-ranging statutory powers,' she said.
Agri-Food Regulator
The chairperson of the Agri-Food Regulator has indicated that he is confident that the regulator will be afforded further powers in order to carry out its functions.
Speaking to Agriland at the inaugural conference of the Agri-Food Regulator today (Tuesday, May 20), Joe Healy said that, with the powers the regulator currently has, it is not possible to 'get the full picture'.
'We're very straight, very independent and very honest with the businesses, but we want them to give us the information as well,' Healy said.
'We are happy, having met the minister…[that] the government is committed in the Programme for Government to giving us enough power to do our job, he said his department are treating it as a priority…and that it his intention as minister for agriculture to ensure that the Agri-Food Regulator has the powers to carry out the duties it was set up to do,' the regulator chairperson added.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RTÉ News
2 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Central Bank chief warns Finance Minister of VAT 'vulnerability'
Central Bank Governor Gabriel Makhlouf has warned the Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe about the vulnerability of VAT as a source of revenue, as the Government plans to cut the rate of the tax for the hospitality and retails sectors. The Coalition promised to change the tax for those sectors in the Programme for Government following commitments given during last year's General Election. However, in his annual letter to the Minister for Finance ahead of Budget 2026, Mr Makhlouf said Ireland's "VAT base appears relatively narrow by EU comparison owing to both changes in the composition of household expenditure over time as well as the widespread application of reduced and zero rates to a variety of goods and services." The Governor also warned about the "narrowness" of income tax as a source of funds. He said the tax was "highly concentrated with 8.5% of the highest-income taxpayers in Ireland accounting for 56% of aggregate personal income tax revenue (income tax and USC)." Mr Makhlouf also repeated the Central Bank's concern about the Government about relying on excess corporation tax. He said if those receipts were to fall at a time of a reduction in multinational activity and a fall in investment it could result in a budget deficit of 4% in national income by 2030 in the absence of corrective action. Mr Makhlouf also pointed out taxes had increased significantly over recent years "well above long run historic averages."
Irish Independent
9 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Student fees will ‘revert' to €3,000 this September after three years of ‘once-off' reductions, says minister
The last three budgets reduced student fees by €1,000 as part of wider 'once-off' cost-of-living packages that will not be repeated this year. Further and Higher Education Minister James Lawless has said that fees will 'revert' to what they were before such measures were applied. Speaking to RTÉ's This Week, Mr Lawless said: 'The indications are that there won't be a cost-of-living package this year, so all of us, in any walk of life, has to play the hands we're dealt. 'If I don't have a cost-of-living package, I can't do those kind of measures that were done last year.' Mr Lawless said the 'once-off' supports were 'very clearly described as once-off at the time' and 'are not being provided for as it stands because there's no cost-of-living package being made available'. 'That may change coming into the budget. It's a matter for the finance ministers more so than myself, but, you know, that is what's coming,' he added. He said the contribution fees paid by many students will 'revert' to what they were before such measures were applied. The contribution fee can vary based on a student's eligibility for grants, but the maximum rate is €3,000. 'Fees will reset, as with energy costs, as with the welfare system, as with every other means-tested payment across government, will revert to what it was before cost-of-living packages,' he said. 'If there is no cost-of-living package, there's no cost-of-living subsidy. If there's no cost-of-living subsidy, rates revert to what they were before that.' ADVERTISEMENT Mr Lawless said 'instead' measures that expand the grant scheme to higher thresholds will be considered along with other grant supports. He said the Programme for Government, which commits to reducing the student contribution fee over the lifetime of the Government, also states that both the reduction of the fees and the 'financial burden on families and students' would be done in 'a financially sustainable way'. 'I can't cherry-pick the Programme for Government, I have to implement it in full,' he said. 'Is it financially sustainable in a circumstance where we don't have any cost-of-living package to put resources into one-off measures? I think the clue is in the name, they were one-off measures.' Mr Lawless said he still intends to 'wind down' the contribution fee over the lifetime of the Government. He is also currently in discussions with Housing Minister James Browne in relation to the reforms of Rent Pressure Zones. While they are working on a way to 'carve out student-specific accommodation from the RPZ rules', he said it is more difficult to define what privately-rented, off-campus properties could qualify as student-specific accommodation. 'I think it's relatively straightforward to work on rules for student-specific accommodation, where we have apartments on campus or in and around campus provided for the student population. That's relatively straightforward,' he said. He said there is a need to 'work out the balance' in relation to incentivising the delivery of such accommodation.
Irish Independent
a day ago
- Irish Independent
Eoin Ó Broin calls for new state regulator to oversee apartment block management companies
Reforms requiring firms to set up sinking funds to deal with unexpected costs should go further, says Sinn Féin housing spokesman Companies in charge of running apartment buildings will be required to set up sinking funds to deal with unexpected costs under new legal changes — but there are calls for reforms to go further. Sinn Féin housing spokesman Eoin Ó Broin said a new regulator needs to be established to have oversight of the owner management companies (OMCs) managing blocks of flats. He also called for the Property Services Regulatory Authority (PSRA) to be given additional powers to take action against agents working for OMCs to manage apartment complexes. OMCs are usually made up of apartment owners. They run common areas and shared services in multi-unit complexes, but under a new remediation scheme for defective apartments they will also be responsible for applying for grant funding and managing repairs for fire safety and water ingress. Some owners want to see a register of OMCs established to give better oversight of the sector. Government reforms will see responsibility for legislation transferred from the Department of Justice to the Department of Housing. It is expected this will also mean responsibility for the PSRA will move to the Department of Housing. Discussions about transferring these responsibilities are ongoing, but sources said the talks have stopped short of proposing a new register and a regulatory body to oversee OMCs. Correspondence between Department of Justice officials, obtained by Mr Ó Broin under Freedom of Information, shows new regulations under the multi-unit development act 'will be made… to ensure that OMCs are financially sustainable'. This will see regulations introduced requiring OMCs to 'provide for expenditure of a non-recurring nature (ie, sinking fund expenditure)', it states. ADVERTISEMENT They will also set out the class of items which may be subject to annual service charges, and set procedures around setting, levying and paying these charges. Mr Ó Broin said he would like to see reforms of the sector go further. There needs to strong regulation of the property services sector 'There needs to be a regulator of the multi-unit development act, where it would oversee and regulate the OMCs and also produce mechanisms where if there is a dispute between OMC members it could be resolved outside of the courts. That is necessary,' he added. 'The PSRA will move to the Department of Housing. 'That should have happened a long time ago and that is relevant because the OMCs — which represent the owners and owner directors — often appoint agents who run complexes. 'They are regulated by the PSRA which has a voluntary code of conduct and no enforcement powers. 'There needs to be not only a regulator for the OMCs, but strong regulation of the property services sector.' A Department of Housing spokesman said the Programme for Government commits to transferring responsibility for the multi-unit development act from the Department of Justice 'to streamline support for owners' management companies and improve oversight'. He added that work collaborating with the Department of Justice in preparing new regulations around service charges and establishing sinking funds 'are now at an advanced stage'.
