Vol. 512 No. 5
7 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the number of producer groups in the horticultural industry which have been formed in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26455/99]
Producer organisations are recognised and approved under EU regulations. Council Regulation (EC) No. 2200/96 of 28 October 1996 is the current regulation which, inter alia, provides for the establishment of producer organisations. In the past five years, 13 producer organisations have been granted official recognition, six in 1998 and seven in 1999. Eleven of the groups are engaged in the production of mushrooms, one in fruit and the other in fruit and vegetables.
Does the Minister agree that these figures are quite disappointing and that where producers can come together and share overheads, it leads to better income, organisation of their markets, better quality and a longer season for their customers? Has the Minister any further initiatives in mind which would encourage producers to work together in this way?
I could not agree more with the Deputy's comments. There is strength in numbers for producers – the Dublin-Meath Growers Association is the best example of that. Three years ago, it was not possible to get the association going, but growers have since succeeded in doing that. Cork has been one of the most disappointing areas. There is disagreement there among many producers.
Is that an indictment of the Minister of State's colleagues?
The Deputy may have greater influence with some of the people to whom I refer. It offers strength and price control to producers to come together. The advent of the new supermarkets which are coming into the country has created the urgency for that kind of initiative.
We are discussing operational programmes submitted by seven of the producer organisations, which were officially recognised earlier this year. We are looking to further expand them and to try to do something with them. Six groups were recognised in 1998 and submitted operational programmes which will be implemented in 1999. They are eligible for community assistance in respect of those programmes in 2000.
We are encouraging more people to get involved. I know there are carrot growers and other producers in the Deputy's constituency and if they joined together to form a producer group, they would save on transport, supply and so on. It would give them real strength in terms of the control of prices and they could not be bullied or divided.
Has the Minister any plans to assist producers in east Cork who have lost out badly as a result of the closure of Universal Foods despite the commitment given by his colleague that the facility would remain open? What has he to say about the fact there is no frozen vegetable processing plant in the country? Will he and his colleagues take responsibility for this because they were in power when this facility closed?
The question on the specific area is not the subject of this question.
My colleague did not say it would remain open because everyone knew from the start it could not.
He said it would reopen.
That is a different matter. That is being actively pursued. Rather than trying to trivialise this serious matter, the Deputy should encourage producers in Cork to come together and form a unified producers group which would better serve all their interests.
We have lost the industry.
