Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 24 April 2024

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

The 50th Anniversary of Guaranteed Irish: Discussion

Photo of Louise O'ReillyLouise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Following on from that, I have a number of questions that are on the same theme. Guaranteed Irish products have the symbol. Does that mean that the products are made here in Ireland? In terms of sustainability, I would be interested to know how the symbol is awarded where the products are not made in Ireland but imported and what exactly that means. In regard to sustainability, I fully appreciate the educational role which is obviously important. We are all at that stage of trying to educate ourselves and technology may be moving faster than we, or certainly someone with my capacity, can keep up with. Sustainability is important. The symbol may lead people to believe that what they are buying is made here. That would tick a box for sustainability for me, if I were buying a pair of shoes. If I see, not just this symbol but any symbol that gives me the impression that it was made locally, I would decide to buy that when it may be the same price as another pair of shoes that I know for a fact were made in Hong Kong or anywhere else. I wonder in that context, is the role of Guaranteed Irish related to corporate responsibility, ethical trading and education or is there an emphasis on trying to do more here on this island?