Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister of State's response, although it highlights the fact there is an issue with regard to labelling. In the supermarkets, unfortunately, whether the product is a chicken or a griselinia, consumers do not know that it is Irish because the labelling of Irish farm products, whether from a greenhouse or a field, is totally inadequate.

The fact Bord Bia is the responsible agency does not give this issue the significance the industry deserves. The fact there are some 18,500 employees means there are a lot of mouths to feed. The producers deserve, if not a quango, a separate entity that will drive forward the labelling, marketing and research that is needed.

The recommendations of the report commissioned by the Minister of State will be interesting. I take on board his point in regard to the horticulture industry. I have made the point to the producers that they need to formalise themselves into a national association and engage with the Minister of State in a constructive way. There is also massive export potential, when one considers the number of garden centres and of people engaged in this area in the UK in particular. One thing Ireland has is plenty of rain, as we know, which means we have an excellent climate for growing the type of plants, flowers, fruits and vegetables that will get into the UK market, and which are traceable, safe and useable. However, unless we are prepared to take on board the recommendations of the report commissioned by the Minister of State, put a proper labelling system and marketing system in place and bring all the stakeholders together under the one roof, it will not work.

I take the Minister of State's point in regard to the disparate organisations pulling and dragging in separate directions. That is in the past, however, and we need to move on. I will go back to the people who contacted me and ask them to formalise themselves into a national association. When that is done, perhaps the Department and its officials can sit down with them again. This is an industry that clearly has huge potential given it already sustains 18,500 employees and God only knows how many families.

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