Irish Hemp Industry Forum: Terms of Reference
(The Irish Hemp Industry Forum was established in October 2019. See the Terms of Reference below)
As agreed with the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine, October 2019
TERMS OF REFERENCE
PURPOSE
The general purpose of the Stakeholder Forum is to understand the multiple
potentials of the Irish hemp industry in the context of integrated development planning in line
with sustainable development objectives.
To meet this purpose, the Stakeholder Forum will focus on knowledge exchange and
constructive dialogue between industry actors, the scientific research community, and
state legislative and regulatory bodies.
It is also envisaged that this approach will serve to extend knowledge sharing capacities in the
interest of informed policymaking.
DUTIES
The Stakeholder Forum exists to:
● Provide an environment to consider and develop thinking about innovative models of
industrial development capable of realising climate policy objectives
● Educate stakeholder groups on the multiplicity of hemp's viable potentials across Irish
agricultural and industrial sectors
● Assess the functional relevance of integrated development planning to the realisation of
multiple optimised outcomes in line with key policy objectives of the Irish state.
● Understand the unique dynamic of the Irish hemp industry relative to expanding global
and EU markets.
● Assess the impact of current legislation and regulatory governance of the Irish industry
and evaluate the practical reforms necessary to support the growth-potential of the
industry
● Consider how successful development of the Irish hemp industry might constitute a
reliable basis for wider strategic reform of current systems of agricultural food production
and agricultural land use management.
● Provide effective mechanisms to extend the knowledge sharing function of the forum.
The forum will also oversee the operation of a number of specialist research groups and their
role will include:
● Offsetting the absence of Irish research data over the past two decades
● Providing a mechanism to support the work of the forum.
● Providing research perspectives on matters under consideration
● Validating information submitted to the forum
● Extending the reach and scope of reliable inference
● Providing a mechanism for problem solving
ACCOUNTABILITY
The Stakeholder Forum is Industry led and will forward reports to the
Minister for Agriculture whose Department will receive the minutes from the forum.
CHAIRMAN
The Chair will be elected by the forum members, through a vote.
- Each member will be invited to send a representative, who will articulate the views of their
organisation/stakeholder community.
- Representation will be reviewed on an ongoing basis.
- Members are expected to make every effort to attend all meetings.
- Deputies can attend though they must be suitably briefed and the forum should be
notified in advance.
- Attendance will be recorded formally through the minutes from the meeting.
INVITED TO ATTEND
In addition to the members of the Stakeholder Forum, it may be
appropriate to invite subject matter experts to provide advice, support and information.
QUORUM
As the Stakeholder Forum is not a decision-making body, there is no specific
quorum for its meetings.
MEETING FREQUENCY
Meetings initially will be held on the last Thursday of the month from
10 am to 12 noon.
MEETING ORGANISATION
i. Meetings of the Stakeholder Forum will be set in advance of the first meeting
ii. Meeting administration and secretariat support will be provided by ---------------------
iii. The draft agenda will be compiled by the administrators and the Chair in advance of the
meeting;
iv. All final papers/reports must be submitted to the meeting administrator 7 days in
advance of the meeting;
v. The agenda and supporting papers to be forwarded to each member of the Stakeholder
Forum and planned attendees or invitees 7 days in advance;
vi. The meeting administrator will prepare an attendance register for each meeting and ensure
that the attendance/non-attendance of all individuals is accurately recorded.
REPORTING
The Stakeholder Forum will submit a summary report to members after every
meeting which provides :
i. Summary of topics discussed;
ii. Highlights, issues and actions;
iii. Decisions made;
iv. Items for escalation;
v. Any new issues and actions required.
STANDING AGENDA ITEMS
i. Apologies;
ii. Minutes of the Previous Meeting;
iii. Matters Arising and Action Log;
iv. Declarations of Interest;
The remainder of the agenda will be defined in agreement between the Chair and Administrators.