Consumers, farmers, growers, the food industry and hotels are among groups represented on the newly established Food Safety Consultative Council.
The 22-member council will act as a "forum for debate" on food safety issues and will provide advice to the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI). The FSAI chief executive, Dr Patrick Wall, said the new body was an important and progressive step for the authority and he looked forward to the opinions and ideas that would emanate from it.
"The council represents the key stakeholders in Ireland in relation to food production and consumption. It will be a tremendous resource for the authority to gauge the current thinking on food safety issues and areas of consumer concern from a wider perspective.
"We view the council as being a positive mechanism for consumers and the food sector to debate issues and provide input to the agenda of the authority."
The council will be chaired by Mr Eoin McGettigan of SuperValu/Centra. Other members are: Ms Darina Allen, Ballymaloe Cookery School; Ms Veronica Campbell, Campbell Catering; Mr Pat Caulfield, Nutricia Ltd; Mr Sean Conlan, Excellence Ireland; Mr Jamie Conlon, Masterchef; Ms Anne-Marie Crowley, National Standards Authority of Ireland; Ms Kathleen Feehily, Irish Countrywomen's Association; Mr Dermot Jewell, Consumers' Association of Ireland; Mr Pat Keogh, Bord Iascaigh Mhara; Mr William Kingston, dairy farmer; Ms Margaret Leahy, Irish Organic Farmers' and Growers' Association; Ms Anne McGarry, Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland; Mr Kevin Moyles, Public Analyst Laboratory, Dublin; Mr Pat Moynihan, FAS; Mr Martin Mullane, Glanbia; Mr Larry Murrin, Dawn Farm Foods; Ms Breda Naughton, Directorate for Asylum Support Service; Ms Brid O'Connor, Office of the Director of Consumer Affairs; Mr John Power, Irish Hotels' Federation; Ms Anne Quirke; and Ms Kathryn Raleigh, IBEC.