Coughlan announces Establishment of Industry Led Research Group to Underpin Development of the Food Industry
The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Mary Coughlan T.D., today announced the establishment of an industry led research group to drive the research agenda in food and underpin the development of the Irish food industry.
Minister Coughlan said that research was identified in Agri-Vision 2015 and the Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation 2006-2013 as a key contributor to building a knowledge-based, competitive, innovative and consumer focussed agri-food sector and the National Development Plan 2007-2013 enhances supports in this area. The group being established will play an important role in ensuring that the significant funding being allocated to research results in optimum benefit for the food industry and the consumer in terms of quality, food safety and innovation.
The Research Group, to be chaired by Mr Dan Browne of the Dawn Meats Group, comprises representatives from the food and drinks industry, the relevant State agencies and research institutes. In addition to providing advice on high level priorities for research under the Department's food research initiatives, the Group will also act as the Irish platform in interacting with and contributing an Irish view to the European Technology Platform and EU Framework Research Programme.
Full membership of the Group is attached. The inaugural meeting will take place in the coming weeks.
21 September, 2007
| Name | Organisation |
| Mr Dan Browne (Chairman) | Dawn Meats Group |
| Mr Larry Murrin | Dawn Farm Foods |
| Mr Michael Patten | Diageo Ireland |
| Mr Kieran Carolan | Green Isle Foods |
| Mr Raymond Coyle | Largo Foods |
| Mr Colin Gordon | Glanbia Consumer Foods |
| Mr Paul Kelly, FDII. | Food and Drinks Industry Ireland - IBEC |
| Dr Liam Donnelly | Teagasc Moorepark Food Research Centre |
| Dr Declan Troy | Teagasc Ashtown Food Research Centre |
| Ms Tara McCarthy | Bord Bia |
| Mr Richard McCormick | Bord Iascaigh Mhara |
| Dr Paul Roben | Enterprise Ireland |
| Dr Alan Reilly | Food Safety Authority of Ireland |
| Dr Geraldine Quinn | Food Safety Promotion Board |
| Mr Dermot Hurst | Marine Institute |
| Dr Maurice Treacy | Science Foundation Ireland |
| Mr Dermott Jewell | Consumers' Association of Ireland |
| Prof Brian McKenna | University College Dublin |
| Prof Gerald Fitzgerald | University College Cork |
| Prof Michael Devereux DIT | Institutes of Technology/DIT |
| Dr Tony Smith | Dept. of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food |
| Mr Declan Coppinger (Secretary to the Group) | Dept. of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food |
Date Released: 21 September 2007
