Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister mentioned the 7.5% target was the EU average about three years ago. It has already gone way beyond that.

For what year is that target? When does the Minister expect to achieve it and what is the Government's target for 2030? The EU has set a target of 25% for then.

The Minister mentioned marketing opportunities and the need to ensure that, when farmers move to organic products, they get a premium for those and they have a market into which to sell. Has the Minister engaged with other Departments, in particular the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, to ensure a portion of the budget for the procurement of food using taxpayers' money is ring-fenced for Irish-produced organic food? This single measure could make a major difference in increasing the targets the Government has set.

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