Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Fitzmaurice.

I have three succinct questions. I represent a coastal county. Obviously, I am concerned with the plight of fishermen, in particular those with boats under 10 m. Is the Minister actively considering a tie-up scheme? The Minister said he wanted to do something but he has not said what it is. Is it a tie-up scheme?

I refer to the beef taskforce. There are many constitutional constraints on this House - where it can sit, how it sits etc. There are no such constraints on the beef taskforce. It has not sat since January. Has it achieved its role which was to get Fine Gael through an election or will it produce something that is useful for farmers?

The Minister discussed imports tonight. I accept the position is as the Minister set it out to be but some of those imported foods have been labelled with Bord Bia quality assured labels which is of great concern. Will the Minister engage with Bord Bia to make sure with such imported foods there is not the potential for confusion which now exists because consumers associate a Bord Bia quality assured label with it being an Irish product? Sometimes it is and sometimes it is not.

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