Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Obviously this committee has done extensive work on the issue and has published a report. We have repeatedly said that the loss of the all-Ireland market would be devastating for agrifood. Obviously it is not just the all-Ireland market, but also access to the British market. Has there been any attempt to improve the all-Ireland nature of what Bord Bia is doing to work in co-operation with its counterparts in the North to market the island of Ireland? Obviously the 40 shades of green - coming from Buncrana, I appreciate this more than most - does not stop at the Border of Derry and Donegal or Louth and Down. The all-island model could be marketed. The potential consumers for what we are marketing overseas do not look at the Border. They think of this beautiful green island and that is what we sell.

Would Ms McCarthy accept that for producers and processors in this State who are signed up to Bord Bia, the lack of an all-Ireland approach impacts on their business model?

It is not good for many businesses in this State that conduct business in the North. I appreciate that Bord Bia has a 26-county remit. Does it plan to change that situation? We have the North-South Ministerial Council. We talk about all-Ireland co-operation and an all-Ireland market. We have an all-Ireland agency that markets tourism and there is a range of all-Ireland agencies and markets. It strikes me that we have a dichotomy and contradiction. On the one hand, we say we want the all-island agrifood sector to be protected but, on the other hand, we say we will only promote Irish food produced in the Twenty-six Counties. I would like to hear the views of Bord Bia other than its remit. Does Bord Bia think its remit should be changed? Should the Irish Government give Bord Bia better instructions about its work?