Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

I would like to see an increase in organic capacity and to see the price issue addressed, as no doubt would Deputy Sargent. The issue of labelling will be considered in the context of changes made. A labelling group made a number of recommendations which have now been addressed but there are still opportunities and a need for reorientation. Perhaps even the organic producers should consider a particular symbol with which they would be synonymous as a group. That may be a matter for the trade itself, but I know that trademarking, and having an affinity with something one can see, is as important as labelling. If we are to compete in the organic area, which I would like to see happening, we must look seriously at the cost issue and the disappointing fact that so much of the organic food consumed in Ireland is not grown here.

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