Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I will put two other points to the Department. I then have a couple of questions for Teagasc. It has been raised with us, and I am asking whether the Department is aware of this, that inspections has increased. Growers are getting more inspections around commercial rates. That has been raised as an issue with us. Given that many of these growers are already struggling, that is a matter the Department might be able to look at. That would be useful.

Second, one of the strategic actions is around a retailers' charter. Does the Department see that as a priority given the price the producer is getting? We want to hold what we have as regards the number of growers, which is probably lower than it has ever been, and develop and grow the sector. We should be standing on our two feet an awful lot more on in this country in respect of that sector, rather than relying and depending so heavily on imports when we can do a lot of it ourselves. Is the retailers' charter something the Department sees as a priority and one of those eight actions that will be moved on very quickly?