Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)

I thank the Minister for his answer but I do not believe that the quality assurance scheme will work out that well. We need to lay down standards to let that market grow. In the case of pork products pitched at the high end of the market, there is an opportunity to create jobs in rural communities and grow the economy. I take on board what the Minister has said but I would deeply appreciate if he would push this matter a little further. If people want to get into that top end market, they need clear standards and to be able to label their produce similar to the way producers can label their produce as free range. That would help those small number of producers who are mainly based in the Cork area. It would assist in allowing them to grow their income and to grow that end of the industry. I thank the Minister again for his response.

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