Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)

I acknowledge the Minister of State's argument with regard to producer organisations but does he accept that a considerable degree of co-operation already takes place, co-ordinated by the IFA? Everything possible is being done. Does he agree that Departments, such as the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, have a role to play in providing alternative outlets to the six main retail firms which are essentially squeezing producers? Farmers' markets formed part of the recommendations in the report to which he referred but I do not see them being developed in areas such as north County Dublin, which is ironic given that is home to most of the country's field vegetable production. Will he enlist the help of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and local authorities in providing an alternative to the six main retail firms? When he accompanied me to Ballyboughal, we observed the large retailing and packaging side of the industry rather than the growers who are being forced out of business. We need to help these growers.

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