Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy is spot on. One of the main dangers is that there has been attempt by some in the Commission to transfer unspent money in the agriculture budget to other non-agricultural expenditure programmes. We have been seeking additional money for agriculture to deal with this problem because it is primarily a foreign affairs issue and there is a risk the agriculture budget could be raided. Commissioner Hogan is very much fighting against that. Earlier this week at the Council meeting, we gave him a strong endorsement of that policy to make sure money taken out of the agriculture budget would be used for programmes such as this and not transferred to other areas.

With regard to infant formula, a Wyeth product manufactured in Askeaton, west Limerick is the premium plus product on Chinese shelves selling at many multiples of the locally produced infant formula. It is one of the most successful products in the Chinese markets under the label Illuma. Other Irish companies, including Abbot and Danone, are doing this as well. The Chinese market for high-end dairy products, in particular infant formula, is accelerating at an exciting pace.

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