IFA chief stresses need to leave food remit with Department of Agriculture

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen was urged yesterday to retain food in the remit of the Department of Agriculture.

Fears have arisen in recent weeks that responsibility for food would be moved from the department to a new economic ministry focused on job creation, with tourism and food as the key elements.

But any such move is being strongly opposed by the Irish Farmers’ Association, which stressed that responsibility for the food sector must remain within the department.