An Rialálaí Agraibhia (Agri-Food Regulator) has announced the establishment of a new Legal and Research unit, as the organisation continues to expand its capabilities and statutory functions.
The establishment of the Legal and Research unit marks a further step in the continued development of the Agri-Food Regulator, strengthening its in-house expertise as its regulatory, enforcement, research and policy responsibilities continue to evolve.
In her new role, Ciara O’Gorman will lead the provision of comprehensive in-house legal advice across the Regulator, while overseeing legal and policy research relating to its enforcement powers, data collection and transparency objectives.
Ms. O’Gorman is a solicitor with 20 years’ experience working across regulated industries in private practice, as in-house counsel and in public service. She has held senior legal and compliance roles with international insurance firms. Prior to joining the Agri-Food Regulator, she worked with the Data Protection Commission as part of its Large-Scale Inquiries team.
Commenting on her appointment, Ciara O’Gorman, Head of Legal and Research, said: “I’m delighted to take on this new role at an important stage in the Regulator’s development. A strong Legal and Research function will be central to supporting the organisation as its work continues to evolve, and to advancing greater transparency and fairness across Ireland’s agri-food supply chain.”
The Regulator has also appointed Anne Hayden as Policy and Research Officer within the new Legal and Research unit. Anne brings a strong research background in Irish agriculture and agricultural policy, with particular expertise in the regional impacts of climate mitigation measures.
As the ninth generation of her family to be involved in agriculture, Anne brings a deep-rooted understanding of the sector to her role, alongside a longstanding interest in the wider agri-food supply chain and in how research and evidence can support its continued development.
Commenting on the appointments, Niamh Lenehan, CEO of the Agri-Food Regulator, said: “The establishment of the Legal and Research unit is a significant development in the Agri-Food Regulator’s current stage of growth. Ciara O’Gorman brings extensive legal and regulatory experience that strengthens our in-house legal and research capacity and will enhance organisational resilience, responsiveness and capacity to meet evolving legislative and stakeholder expectations.
“Anne’s expertise in agricultural research and policy will further strengthen the unit’s evidence and research base. Together, these appointments will supplement the specialist expertise in the organisation as we continue to grow and deliver on the Regulator’s statutory remit. I look forward to working with them both.”
The appointments form part of the Agri-Food Regulator’s continued growth as it builds the specialist legal, regulatory and research expertise required to deliver effectively on its statutory functions and improve fairness and transparency in business-to-business relationships in the agri-food supply chain.
