Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)

It is clear that she took a back seat in respect of the nitrates directive and did not lay out the implications of its implementation as it stood for Irish farmers. She has not played an active role with the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government towards developing a comprehensive bio-fuel industry. She made an announcement today regarding a three year research programme but it should not have been up to her to do so. Her colleague, the previous Minister for Agriculture and Food, should have done it a long time ago. It is a bit late trying to close the door after the horse has bolted.

The Minister's failure to close off various legal loopholes in the area of food labelling is undermining confidence in the Irish meat industry. Irish farmers are obliged to compete with low cost products that should be clearly labelled. Meat derived from low standards throughout the world and with low cost production is entering the European Union and competing on a level playing pitch with Irish products, whether as beef, poultry, lamb or whatever. It is critically important that we at least play on a level pitch. Pork from the United States of America, chicken from south east Asia, lamb from Thailand, beef from Brazil and vegetables from Israel are coming into this country and being passed off on restaurant tables as Irish food or reprocessed here and sent out as Irish products.

This causes significant problems, one of which is with consumer confidence. Irish consumers are shopping blindfolded in our supermarkets because they are unable to decipher our ambiguous labelling system. It is disgraceful that we can bring a chicken fillet from Asia into this country, spread breadcrumbs on it and call it an Irish chicken fillet. Something is wrong with that system.

The prepared consumer food sector is one of our greatest success stories, as the Minister has acknowledged, with annual sales reaching €3 billion. Exports in 2004 were valued at €1.6 billion. What happens if a product that does not meet our basic standards is imported from a third country, reprocessed into a consumer product and sent out of this country with an Irish label? It would have a devastating impact on the Irish processing industry and on Ireland, but it is allowed to happen week in, week out.

The Minister promised labelling within the catering trade and at long last, the legislation is going through the House. Last September, the Minister announced a voluntary code but I have not yet seen any restaurants that have implemented it.

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