Mr. Jim O'Toole:

I will open the response and let my colleagues from Meat Industry Ireland comment also. There are two elements. There is country-of-origin labelling, as the Deputy is aware. If the carcass originates outside a member state, there is a legal requirement to record the place of origin accurately. It cannot be recorded as being of Irish origin. Again referring to our own quality assurance programme, I emphasise that only quality-assured lamb going through a quality-assured processor will be able to bear the Bord Bia quality assurance mark that has "Origin–Ireland" on it. This is rigorously audited and examined by our team. Any of the imported lamb product may be used on the domestic market or exported to other market destinations, but it is not designated as Irish or quality assured by Bord Bia. Maybe my colleagues from Meat Industry Ireland would like to give their perspective also.