Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 16 Oct 1991

Vol. 411 No. 1

Written Answers. - Farming of Indigenous Produce.

Roger T. Garland

Question:

254 Mr. Garland asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he has any plans to increase the variety of farming of indigenous produce as the marketing of these foods for the Irish consumer market (1) increases the self-sufficiency of the Irish people, (2) assists the balance of payments, (3) preserves the world's natural resources which would otherwise be used for the preservation and transportation of foods grown in and transported from other countries.

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. O'Kennedy)

In accordance with overall Government policy for the food industry, and as I indicated in response to several similar questions in the last Dáil session, both my own Department and the State agencies charged with developing the various sectors of the industry, are paying particular attention to the development of domestic alternatives to imported produce in areas where climatic and other factors allow such alternatives to be produced on a competitive economic basis.