Mr. John Foy:

I have been involved in the retail sector from the age of 15 years. I am the store owner of a SuperValu supermarket in a small rural town, Cootehill, County Cavan, which has a population of 1,500. I employ 55 people and we aim to provide 100% support, where possible, for local suppliers and producers. The SuperValu chain is part of the Musgrave Group and 100% of our beef, chicken and pork is sourced in Ireland. From being involved on the ground and dealing with local suppliers, I am aware that some of the difficulties they encounter in running small businesses relate to the cost and bureaucracy involved in being listed in some of the larger chains. On a local basis, because I adopt a hands-on approach as a retailer, I can make that decision.

I will mention what I would want to see happen in the future. Because of what has happened in recent weeks on the issue of the traceability of meat products, I have lost confidence. We trace the beef used in our products from the backdoor to the consumer, but I lack confidence because of what has been happening in the case of other products. I suggest there is a need for greater transparency for consumers in order that they will have confidence about from where products are coming. Some of our chicken products are deemed to be Irish, but once products are imported and processed here, they can be called Irish. For example, a large percentage of some key Irish branded cheeses with good Irish names are produced outside the country. As a retailer, what I need is confidence that the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine will be held accountable and that it will ensure the reputation of Irish produce is protected across the world.