Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)

We have taken practical measures, which are in conformity with European law, to inform and protect consumers. The route we have followed is quality assurance. Bord Bia, which operates under the aegis of my Department, has developed quality assurance schemes for pigmeat, beef, eggs and horticulture to name but a few sectors. These schemes offer the consumer additional assurances of quality. Bord Bia has been provided with special funding in the 2007 Estimates for quality assurance to supplement the funding in its grant-in-aid. The Bord Bia quality assurance logo provides consumers with an assurance that all pork and bacon carrying the logo is sourced from quality assured farms and with information about the country of origin.

Bord Bia has encouraged the use of the new "Quality Assurance Scheme" logo on eligible products, and a range of promotional activities to increase consumer awareness of the logo has been undertaken in recent years. This has involved a combination of television, radio, press and outdoor advertising combined with point of sale material in retail outlets. A recent national consumer awareness survey indicated that two thirds of the population are now aware of the "Quality Assurance Scheme Origin" logo. The promotional activity in this regard will continue throughout the coming year.

I acknowledge that securing low-cost, high quality feed is becoming more of a problem. Ireland does not produce sufficient amounts of animal feed to meet its needs. Until we become more self-reliant, we will continue to be hostage to international grain and feed markets. The main reason feed prices have risen is a shortage caused by the US policy of sending, last year, 20% of maize to make ethanol, and climate change which causes drought in large, grain-exporting regions.

While high feed prices are a bonus for cereal producers, the feed security problem is affecting all feed import dependent farmers. I am committed to resolving those difficulties, both in the short term and with a view to securing market advantage for Irish produce.

I am committed to ensuring choice for farmers who wish to use non-GM feed. At present, these farmers have great difficulty in securing affordable GM-free or organic feed. The supply of non-GM feed needs to be encouraged if these farmers are to take advantage of the demand in European markets for produce fed on non-GM feed. This will aid Ireland in developing markets for high quality conventional and organic Irish beef.

The decision by Ireland to abstain on the recent EU Council vote on GM animal feeds is in line with France and Italy which also abstained. France and Italy are major buyers of Irish produce.

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