Ms Eileen Bentley:

I will address Deputy Ó Cuív's question first. He correctly pointed out that within the €110 million, vegetables, fruit and yoghurt represent the majority of sales in my estimates. At least 50% to 60% of the €110 million comes from the Irish market purely based on the strength of horticulture and dairy sector products represented in those categories. Fruit is much more seasonal and a category which relies more heavily on imports from overseas.

The second question was how much product is organic but is sold as conventional. I do not have a figure for that but I acknowledge there is an awareness and understanding at farmer level that this is perceived as something that needs to be looked at, especially how the farmers have their animals slaughtered and whether it could be more convenient and nearer to where they farm the land. This issue is looked at regularly by my colleagues on the organic focus steering group.

Horticulture, beef, dairy and seafood are the main sectors represented overall at farm level. The importance of seafood must not be forgotten. It is one of the key components of the organic sector. This relates to the next topic of exports. The main exports, as the Deputy rightly pointed out, do not necessarily follow the horticulture sector. Seafood is a very important sector, especially organic salmon. Ireland is the number one producer in Europe of farmed organic salmon. At events such as Biofach, at least three or four out of the eight producers we have there annually represent the seafood sector. Whether it is salmon or mussels, seafood is very important for organic exports. Beef is becoming more important and the committee can see these data as presented by my colleague, Mr. Mark Zieg.

With regard to the prepared foods sector, we see increasing exports to a variety of European markets and some world markets.

I wish to correct any potential misunderstanding around the issue of double certification. Organic produce in Ireland is not sold under any Bord Bia label. It would only be sold under labels of the Irish organic certification bodies, such as the Irish Organic Farmers and Growers Association, IOFGA, the Organic Trust, the Soil Association or Demeter. Bord Bia would not double certify producers. Our Bord Bia quality scheme covers meat, some horticulture and poultry but it is very separate from the organic schemes. The way the system is operated in Ireland with the private certification bodies is quite similar to some other European markets. Deputy Ó Cuív made reference to hill lamb.