Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 18 Apr 2002

Vol. 552 No. 2

Written Answers. - Food Industry.

Ivor Callely

Ceist:

27 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the composition of the board of Bord Bia; the nature of the focus of the board on the retail food sector, especially restaurant and delicatessen sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11978/02]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Mr. Walsh)

The board of Bord Bia is statutorily required to have knowledge or experience of the food industry and consumer requirements. Its current membership is as follows:

Philip Lynch (Chairman)
Dan Browne	Margo Monaghan
David Callinan	Maura Nolan
Noel Cawley	William O'Kane
Michael Dowling	Pat O'Rourke
John Duggan	Joseph O'Sullivan
Michael Kilcoyne	John Dillon
Denis Lucey	Mary White

Bord Bia's core aim is to increase sales of Irish food and drink in domestic and international markets. This is the guiding principle for all of its programmes and activities, which are specifically tailored to the needs of the marketplace. It works closely with producers, processors and its customers in the retail and food service sectors to implement a wide range of activities in target markets. Examples of activities specifically geared towards the retail food and restaurant sector include the Féile Bia programme which has been in operation since 2000 in co-operation with the Restaurants Association of Ireland and the Irish Hotels Federation. The programme has a direct link to the Bord Bia quality assurance schemes and membership thereof is a commitment by the catering trade to use quality assured products. The programme has proved very successful to date; more than 350 hotels and restaurants have participated, a figure which is anticipated to rise to more than 500 by the end of the year.

The second annual consumer foods and ingredients industry day was held in September 2001. Bord Bia presented its research on trends that will influence consumer behaviour to the end of the decade. The deli futures roadshow was launched in September to herald a series of retailer briefings in the run up to the speciality foods symposium in April 2002. The purpose of these briefings is to enhance producer and retailer associations. The second international speciality foods symposium, taking place in Kinsale this week, focuses on exploring the future of speciality foods in an international forum of producers, retailers and writers and has as its overall aim the development of the Irish speciality foods sector.

Pat Rabbitte

Ceist:

28 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if his attention has been drawn to allegations that imported potatoes are being sold here as Irish produce; the steps he proposes to take to eliminate this practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11895/02]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Mr. Walsh)

The statutory provisions for which I have responsibility regarding the retail marketing of potatoes relate to quality and plant health controls. These provisions require potato packages to display the variety and size range of the potatoes and the registration number of the packer; they do not require a declaration of country of origin. The EU Labelling Directive and its enabling legislation is a matter for the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. That legislation imposes certain requirements as regards general labelling of products, including potatoes. Displaying incorrect or deliberately misleading information would constitute an offence under that legislation.