Michael Dowling, who chaired the recent beef talks, has been appointed as the independent chair of the soon to be established beef task force.

Dowling is a former secretary general of the Department of Agriculture.

Establishing a task force was one of the key recommendations of beefs talks which brought an end to over two months of farmer protests. The role of the task force will be to ensure the full implementation of the agreement struck at the talks.

Its membership will include representatives from the Department of Agriculture, relevant State agencies such as Bord Bia, farm organisations and the meat industry.

First meeting

Details of the task force’s first meeting are currently being finalised, according to Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed.

Responding to a parliamentary question from Fianna Fáil’s Brendan Smith, the minister said the task force would provide a “robust implementation structure for commitments entered into in the agreement, with timelines and stakeholder engagement”.

These measures set a course towards greater clarity for all stakeholders involved in the beef supply chain

He said it would also offer a platform for engagement with other key stakeholders such as retailers and regulatory authorities.

Minister Creed also highlighted other actions around market transparency, beef promotion and strengthening the position of the farmer in the supply chain included in the agreement.

“These measures set a course towards greater clarity for all stakeholders involved in the beef supply chain, primarily farmers,” he said.

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