Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

Why does the Minister not use the €50 million specifically in this area? We are bottom of the league for farm energy production. We could prime that sector by providing certain guarantees, securities and incentives to get it going.

In only three years of the past decade has the employment attracted to this country by the IDA and Enterprise Ireland provided a surplus of new jobs over those lost. In one year the number of jobs created almost cancelled out those lost. That was in the boom years. Combined with the food sector, this sector could provide sustainable jobs and meet a host of other obligations and targets.

In reference to what Deputy Browne said about Diageo, as the Acting Chairman, Deputy Johnny Brady, is aware, in another guise I have been pushing for the provision of country of origin information for food products but perhaps we need to have country of origin information on our pint of plain in terms of the source of the barley.

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