Assistant Secretary General for Agri-Food, Sectoral Policy and Strategy Development

Responsibilities include:

policy in respect of the meat and dairy sectors
food and drinks industry development
agri-food sectoral planning, including the development of a new agri-food strategy to 2030
economic analysis to inform policy making
the department’s dairy controls inspectorate functions

Divisions

Food Industry Development Division – Head of Division - Angela Robinson

Food Industry Development Division is responsible for policy and strategy for the Irish drinks sector, the Prepared Consumer Foods sector, supports for the wider food processing industry and the artisan food sector, the transposition of the EU Directive on Unfair Trading Practices (UTP) , controls and policy for the protection of Geographical Indicators in Ireland, governance of Bord Bia , administration of EU schemes, including the School Schemes to promote consumption of fruit and vegetables and milk in Irish schools, and EU promotion schemes for food and drinks.

Meat and Milk Policy Division – Head of Division - Maria Dunne

The Division has responsibility for development of policy in the dairy and meat sectors (beef, sheepmeat, pigmeat and poultry), for market access for meat and dairy products to third countries, and for a range of cross cutting functions, including input where relevant into Food Wise 2025/ Agri-Strategy 2030, EU, trade and climate discussions.

Economics and Planning Division - Head of Division - Sean Bell

Economics and Planning Division (EPD) is responsible for providing a quality service to the Minister and department on economics, statistics and strategic policy planning; and to contribute effectively to cross-government policy, international agricultural policy and international development co-operation.

Dairy Controls Division - Head of Division - Nick Finnerty

The Dairy Controls Division is responsible for verifying that Food Business Operators in the dairy sector meet the requirements of the regulations, so that milk and milk based products meet the legal standards of food safety and quality; providing health certification for export of dairy products to markets outside the EU; carrying out controls to verify that market support schemes for milk and milk products are efficiently and effectively operated; and input into policy for the development of the Dairy Industry.