Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for his reminder.

Producers concentrate for the most part on supplying the home market. The EU prohibits supports which are targeted at import substitution. It should also be noted that two sectors of Irish horticulture, in particular, are important sources of foreign revenue. The vast bulk of mushroom production is exported to the UK and almost all non-food horticultural products, for example, nursery stock, cut foliage, bulbs, flowers and Christmas trees are also exported, mainly to the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland. Further aid for the sector is also available under the capital investment scheme for the marketing and processing of agricultural products and, in addition, producers can also benefit from EU aid under the producer organisation scheme.

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