The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine will this morning meet Minister Simon Coveney TD for a briefing on the upcoming Budget 2014.
The Programme for Government stipulates that committees examine estimates on a whole-of-year basis and this meeting forms part of that initiative.
Chairman of the Committee Andrew Doyle TD said: “Pre-budget engagement with the minister is an important component this committee’s work and we will wish to explore how the current budgetary challenges facing the State will impact on the budget of the Department of Department of Agriculture. While the minister may not be in a position to give precise details, the meeting will allow committee members to question him on the likely general thrust of the 2014 sector and its impact on farm families nationwide.
“While it is generally agreed that the imbalances in the public finances need to be corrected, it is important that the any adjustments to the Department of Agriculture’s Budget don’t impact negatively on our high-performing export-led agriculture sector. Committee members welcome the opportunity to have this discussion with Minister Coveney to reiterate the importance of this sector to the wider Irish economy. ”
The meeting takes place at 10:30 am in committee room 1 LH 2000.Committee proceedings can be viewed online here.
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