Mr. Kevin Comiskey:

I thank the Senator for his questions. I attended the first meeting of the wool council, which was only an initial meeting to get set up. As I pointed out earlier, the payment at farm gate level is essential for the farmer to get something in reward. I visited Bradford in England and saw how the wool was managed over there. It is segregated and cleaned and then goes down to the washing plant for cleansing. Indeed, they did express an interest that they would come and set up collection points here. It is getting it to that stage, however.

Even the wool merchants at the first meeting agreed that in order to get it in there, 20% of the wool being presented to them is of little or no use. That is a significant costs to them to get rid of that as well. The main reason for that is because it is of no value to farmers and anything that is of no value is just thrown on the ground. That is why we recommended that there should be an €8 payment for it. That was the only thing. The wool feasibility study was set up and €100,000 was spent on it. It told us nothing different that we did not know. There are markets out there. We sent out a press release after I returned from the trip to Bradford. I received many telephone calls and contacts. I got a telephone call from America regarding hiring their markets out for carpets and such. There are potential markets out there but getting it to that stage is where we have to go.

I will mention a few brief things on Bord Bia. Labelling is a big issue we came across at meetings right across the country, especially on carcase lamb coming in and the follow-up and checks and balances on that. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland, FSAI, Bord Bia and, indeed, the Department all have a role to play in that. The other issue, which the Chairman touched on about doing more for the markets, is that Bord Bia should in my opinion be targeting the younger market. It seems to be the older generation types, if I could use that phrase, who are buying the lamb. It should target the younger generation maybe with mince and burgers and different types of products people could get. It could have shows or cookery demonstrations and things like that to target that younger audience. That would be beneficial as well.