The Office of the State Secretary directs the Ministry’s organisation, and ensures its coordinated operation. It prepares the Ministry’s organisational and operational regulations, makes proposals on the Ministry’s work schedule and continuously monitors implementation of the work schedule.
The State Secretariat for Parliamentary Affairs carries out specific tasks defined by the Minister, and takes part in developing and representing the Ministry’s standpoint. The Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs directs the mechanisms for reaching cross-party agreement, and gives opinions on plans developed in the course of the Ministry’s preparation of legislation.
The State Secretariat for Agrarian Affairs is responsible for the analysis and interpretation of foreign economic, employment and economic developments in the agricultural sector. It deals with tasks related to livestock breeding, its organisation and oversight, and supervision of the preservation of livestock gene pool resources; it also represents itself in EU institutions, in directive committees and in council working groups.
The State Secretariat for Food Chain Supervision and Agricultural Administration has a comprehensive range of responsibilities in the areas of international trade, international and EU relations, farm animal health and welfare, crop care and protection, plant-based products, problems associated with ragweed, and ecological management. It also represents the government in dealings with the food sector and is responsible for the promotion of best practice in farming and for its specialist guidance.
The task of the State Secretariat for Environmental Affairs for Environmental Affairs is promotion of sustainable development, the preservation of air, water and soil quality, and the protection of natural assets. In the area of waste management, the aim of the Office is to reduce pollution and to aid the recycling and up-to-date treatment of the volume of waste produced.
The main responsibilities of the State Secretariat for Rural Development and its organisational units are to implement the goals of the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, and to arrange for the utilisation of EU financial resources through co-financing in the 2007-2013 programme period.