CENTRE for CROSS BORDER STUDIES

(This page is an annexe to the Centre’s mapping study on North/South co-operation on agriculture and food.)

In Northern Ireland the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) has replaced the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland (DANI) and is responsible for:

the development of the agricultural, forestry and fishing industries in Northern Ireland;

• rural development in Northern Ireland;
• providing an advisory service for farmers;
• agricultural research and education;
• providing a veterinary service and administration of animal health and welfare policies;
• responsibility to the UK Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in the administration in Northern Ireland of schemes affecting the whole of the United Kingdom; and
• the application of EU agricultural policy to Northern Ireland.

The Minister for Agriculture prior to suspension of the devolved administration was Bríd Rodgers. The Department is based at Dundonald House, Belfast.

In the Republic of Ireland the same functions come under two government departments.

The Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, usually referred to as the Department of Agriculture and Food, is responsible for:

• policy advice and development on all areas of Departmental responsibility;
• representation in international, especially EU, and national negotiations;
• development and implementation of national and EU schemes in support of agriculture, food, rural development and rural environment;
• monitoring and controlling aspects of food safety;
• control and audit of public expenditure under its control;
• regulation of the agriculture and food industries through national and EU legislation;
• monitoring and controlling animal and plant health and animal welfare;
• monitoring and direction of state bodies engaged in research, training and advice; market development and promotion; industry regulation and development; and commercial activities;
• direct provision of support services to agriculture and food.

The Minister for Agriculture and Food is Joe Walsh, with Ministers of State Ned O'Keeffe and Noel Davern. The Department is based in Dublin but as part of a reorganisation of the Department much of its staff is being decentralised to Johnstown Castle, Co. Wexford.

The Department of the Marine and Natural Resources (DMNR) was established in mid-1997. It brought together the forestry functions of the former Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry and various matters not covered here, including all the functions of the former Department of the Marine, and the Earth Resources (mining and hydrocarbons) functions formerly under the Department of Transport, Energy and Communications.

The Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources is Dr Michael Woods, assisted by Minister of State Hugh Byrne. Of the 398 DMNR staff about 300 are based in Dublin and the remainder at other locations (including the five Fishery Harbour Centres managed by the Department, and other harbours).

In both jurisdictions the rural development functions of the agriculture departments relate essentially to economic matters such as agricultural diversification. Rural community development, while of interest to the respective departments, comes mainly within the remit of the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs and related agencies in the south, and the Department for Social Development and other agencies in the north.