Dáil debates

Tuesday, 23 October 2007

 

Agrifood Industry: Motion

7:00 pm

Photo of Michael CreedMichael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)

I move:

That Dáil Éireann,

noting:

the inadequate consumer information offered by the current Irish labelling regime and the Government failure to legislate appropriately;

the need to end the labelling abuse which is allowed by the 'substantial transformation' loophole;

the legitimate consumer and industry concerns about the continued importation of meat from countries where production systems do not meet EU standards;

the threat to the viability of meat producers posed by the rising cost of animal feed and incoherent Government policy in this area; and

in light of:

the economic importance of the agrifood industry, which accounts for 10% of employment, 8% of GDP and 25% of net foreign earnings;

calls on the Government to:

protect consumers and farmers by introducing comprehensive labelling legislation and banning substandard imports;

protect consumers and farmers by closing the legal loophole which allows foreign produce to be passed off as Irish; and

ensure that the regulatory regime as it applies to the importation of animal feed is reformed so as to provide easy access to feed importers and farmers to animal feed at affordable prices.

I wish to share time with Deputies McHugh, Charles Flanagan, Connaughton, Crawford, Doyle and Clune.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.