Ms Angela Robinson:

I do not. We are clarifying the text around that to ensure there is clarity about what the distinctive roles of the recognised producer groups and the Department or competent authority will be. That is what many of the discussions are about.

We have certainly raised the cross-border issue in our discussions at the Council working group in the context of cross-border GIs where the geographical indication involves a member state and a third country. The text is not clear as to how the situation would work in practice. For example, the article refers to the designation of the recognised producer group which would act on behalf of all producers of the geographical indication. When we are talking about an all-island GI, our question to the Commission was that if the competent authority must designate the producer group based on certain evidence, how does that law apply to a third country or non-member state, particularly on a cross-border issue. We are hoping the Commission will clarify that aspect. We are very conscious of the all-island aspect of these matters. We know its importance in respect of the very successful Irish whiskey product. We are conscious of that point in all of this legislation. We scrutinise and make comments to the Commission about how the cross-border GI is affected.