Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)

Thankfully, I was able to ensure that the person was matched by another person to increase the capacity for inspection. I will reconsider the matter to ascertain how the work is progressing. At present we are evaluating whether it is possible to do all this with the two people involved. There has been an increase in the powers of those two individuals as the Minister, Deputy Coughlan, introduced the statutory instrument which provides increased powers to inspectors to confiscate produce and ensure it is inspected. Those powers were not previously in place, which allowed certain lax practices to take hold.

I would of course agree that not all farmers' markets are organic. Any that falsely claim to be organic are in breach of the law. It is important that consumers, if they are buying products which are said to be organic, ask for the certification which they are entitled to see to reassure themselves.

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