I am not raising this matter for parochial reasons but because it is of vital interest to the proposed establishment of An Bord Bia. I am suggesting that the board should be located in Cork for a number of reasons. An Bord Bia is being set up to market food and it should be situated in an area which reflects our clean environment as well as the excellence of our cuisine. Cork definitely reflects that. Cork airport and the city's ferry services make the region very accessible to European markets. In addition, Cork does not have the problems of traffic congestion Dublin has. If we are to attract people to buy our products and show that this country is clean and unpolluted, it is important to keep them out of areas of high traffic congestion and show them the real Ireland.
For far too long most Departments have been centred in and around Dublin. While there has been a certain amount of decentralisation, this would be a great opportunity to recognise Cork as the country's second city and one that has a lot to offer An Bord Bia. County Cork has excellent services that could help An Bord Bia's marketing, including the Moorepark research facility of Teagasc. Over the years Moorepark has been instrumental in researching products especially in the dairy sector. It is important that An Bord Bia and Moorepark should be located in close proximity to each other to enhance the board's position in marketing food.
The food science section of UCC is also there and if this were to be amalgamated with Moorepark it would provide a great information bank for An Bord Bia. Legislation to establish the new board has not yet been published but I presume it will be soon after Christmas. I welcome the decision because it will bring about the amalgamation of agencies which for too long have been marketing food in a self-interested way. They will now be under the auspices of An Bord Bia with a clear definition and direction on marketing food.
As a result of the ongoing GATT negotiations the food market will become more competitive because more produce will have to be sold on the world market. We will soon have to compete with new competitors. That is the reason I raised this issue of fundamental importance. Cork has excellent restaurants, clean facilities and a vast agricultural hinterland. That is why I am suggesting that An Bord Bia should be set up in Cork and I would hope the Minister will encourage this move. A motion has already been put down at Cork County Council to this effect. This is not a parochial issue. It is being raised as a matter of national interest, not for vested interests.
Cork is the gateway to the southern part of the country for tourists. In addition, the symbol of An Bord Bia's headquarters in Cork would give recognition to the fact that we are trying to attract tourists who would hopefully indulge in the area's excellent cuisine. These tourists would then return home convinced that Irish food is excellent. Traders and others interested in buying our products would also be attracted here. When the relevant legislation has been completed I hope the Minister will advise that An Bord Bia be established in Cork.
To recap, Cork has an airport, a ferry service to Europe, and is a city with modern facilities. However, Cork does not have the traffic congestion problems that have led Dublin towards traffic strangulation. Cork also has University College and the Moorepark research facility. In addition, the region's vast agricultural hinterland and fine coastal fishing facilities — plus the fact that Kinsale's restaurants, Ballymaloe House and others, are world renowned to gourmets like Keith Floyd — encourage the location of An Bord Bia in Cork.
I thank the Minister for listening to me and I hope An Bord Bia will be given a sound footing to market our food products abroad. Our food industry is the most important industry in Ireland. I hope the Minister will convey my points to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry and the Department prior to a decision being make in Cabinet.
