Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 12 Nov 1998

Vol. 496 No. 5

Written Answers. - Meat Sales.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

48 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food whether he has satisfied himself that multinational stores are sourcing their food products within the country with particular reference to beef, lamb and pigmeat; the proposals, if any, he has to ensure the optimum sourcing of these products within the country, if his attention has been drawn to the policy in some EU member states to sell almost exclusively home produced products; if his attention has further been drawn to the implication this would have Irish agriculture; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23111/98]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

Under the rules governing the Single Market, it is not possible to restrict imports from other member states on grounds of trade or to compel retailers to source only home produced products. These rules apply equally in all member states and indeed the rules have worked to our advantage in that our food and drink exports are more than double the value of imports.

However, the matter of consumer preference is something which cannot by definition be regulated and I am aware that post BSE, there has been a shift in consumer preference towards domestically produced product and a corresponding resistance to imported beef. An Bord Bia, which has statutory responsibility for the marketing and promotion of Irish food and drink products both at home and abroad, has adopted marketing strategies to meet the challenges posed by this trend. Programmes have been developed and are already in operation to address marketing difficulties, including valuable quality assurance schemes which will restore consumer confidence. It is in the process of updating its strategy to ensure greater penetration of the EU market for beef.

I am confident that the board in co-operation with the entire industry will continue to access every viable market for Irish food products to the benefit of the economy as a whole.