Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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714. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the promised food ombudsman will be appointed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26306/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The establishment of a new Office of a National Food Ombudsman or Regulator is a key Programme for Government commitment. The new Office will have a role in analysing and reporting on price and market data in Ireland and will also incorporate Enforcement Authority functions required by the Unfair Trading Practices Directive.

I signed the Statutory Instrument (SI) transposing Directive (EU) 2019/633, the Directive on Unfair Trading Practices, into law on 28th April last, the first step in the process of establishing the new Office. SI No. 198 of 2021 transposes the Directive into Irish law directly as it stands, as secondary legislation in Ireland does not allow for changes to be made to the Directive. The Regulations will have effect from 1 July 2021.

The next step requires the drafting of primary legislation to establish the Office of a National Food Ombudsman/Regulator or equivalent, and to provide for any further powers which may be given to that office. In that regard, I recently launched a public consultation to seek views on these issues which will remain open until 26th May 2021.

The UTP Enforcement Authority will operate on an interim basis in the Department pending the finalisation of the primary legislation for the new Office, following which it will be incorporated into that Office.

Until the consultation is complete and the legislation is finalised, I am not in a position to say exactly when the new Office will be established. The legislation is being prioritised by the Department.