Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 21 February 2024

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed)

Photo of Eugene MurphyEugene Murphy (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am not because Mr. Moore made an important point in terms of fruit. From a farming stability point of view, we import €20 million worth of blueberries into this country. They can be so easily grown in Ireland. I made the point to the Minister, Deputy Ryan, that one of the problems is that it does not pay farmers to do that. You need to incentivise them. It is the same with cranberries, which can be grown very successfully in Ireland. We are importing all these, however, and nothing drives me more mad than when I go into the supermarket and see all of the South American labels. In terms of giving some sustainability to particular farms, we could produce those crops or give farmers incentives to produce those crops.

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