I was speaking about the necessity to encourage diversification, with particular reference to the machinery manufacturing sector. I have already dealt with that sufficiently and I wish to turn momentarily to the food processing sector. It was, unfortunately, in this particular sector that the difficulties arose which have already been aired in this House this evening.
In relation to food processing, it is essential that the most modern packaging, presentation and sales techniques be employed. The consumer has very quickly realised that the visual impact of a particular product has tremendous significance—perhaps unfortunately also — and as a result many of the items which are now displayed in our shops, stores and supermarkets, which are manufactured and processed outside the country, are far more eye-catching and far better presented than many of the products we process at home. As the previous speakers mentioned, it is ridiculous to expect the people in the countries to which we export to support Irish produce if we have not the patriotism and the will to support our own industries.
This is particularly relevant in the case of processed foods. There are quite a number of foods being processed at present. We have many varieties of peas imported which have been very well marketed in this country, which were in competition with our own products and whose sales, I would contend, are gaining in momentum. We have a number of firms processing potatoes. Again, they were successful in cornering a substantial slice of the Irish market before we recognised that there was a possibility there for Irish processing to get in on the act, and to give employment at home, and, indeed, to produce a better product. It only remains, again, for the sales and the presentation techniques which are already in evidence in other countries to be adopted by Irish manufacturers in order to ensure the success of diversification in this area.
The Tuam sugar factory has already been referred to. I believe it has been a vibrant social and economic entity in the past and I see no reason why it cannot continue to be that in the future, provided that the raw materials are produced and made available to us. At the same time I hope that the modernisation of the plant which is necessary will be undertaken to ensure that the company can continue to operate in Tuam on a viable basis.
There has been some criticism of the Irish Sugar Company this evening, and it is justified, but I would not like it to go out from this House that we are here just to criticise. The firm has given long and faithful service. It has come upon rather hard times, in fact extremely hard times it would appear from the continued losses, but we should have sufficient confidence in Comhlucht Siúicre Éireann to ensure that the funds are made available for it to continue in operation, to expand its operations and to diversify where possible. As long as supplies of sugar beet are available for any of its factories we should ensure that they are allowed to operate and, at the same time, we should make sure that the funds which we hope are incorporated in the present Bill are made available to the company.
