James Geoghegan (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State and I welcome his support for the funding of farmers' markets and organic food fairs. In all seriousness, these fairs are a very good way of bridging some of the differences and divides between rural and urban Ireland and fostering a greater understanding and appreciation of rural Ireland in urban environments but crucially, there is a real economic value to this. Most of the new restaurants that emerge in Dublin or Cork or wherever are built off the ethos of farm to fork. That is where the punters are going. That is where they are spending their money.

Other European countries are very proud of promoting the food manifesto. In particular, one of the ways the Nordic countries have to encourage people to visit is the thriving restaurant sectors they have. We know the challenges the restaurant sector right across Ireland faces and that is why this Government has committed to reducing the VAT rate to 9% in the lifetime of this Government. That will be a very important measure as they deal with their cost of business. Equally, it is about promoting the philosophies that underpin these restaurants as well.

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