Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister of State to the House and congratulate him belatedly on his appointment. It is a portfolio in which he is particularly interested and of which he has personal knowledge given that his constituency of Dublin North was one of the first areas in which horticulture and local organic food production were developed.

The Minister of State concluded his remarks in a sensible fashion. We must keep in mind that the contribution of farmers' markets and the organic sector will never be huge in quantity or percentage terms in the context of our overall food and agribusiness market. It is an important sector and it certainly has room for expansion, but it will not answer all the questions on the future of agriculture and food production. I will shortly attend a meeting of the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Food where we will discuss Brazilian beef. Here in the Chamber we are discussing local organic food production and farmers' markets, while the Oireachtas committee will discuss the importation of Brazilian beef. Somewhere in between is the solution to which we must all aspire.

It was interesting to hear the Minister of State quote the statistics on world food production. I read some of that report in one of yesterday's newspapers. It is an issue that requires careful consideration, not only by political thinkers and policy makers in this State but also within the European Union. In the last ten years, at European level, we have gone from milk lakes and beef and butter mountains, and the associated political scandals, to the other side of the equation where Europe and the world is barely producing sufficient food to meet the needs of the population. This is a major challenge to address as agricultural land is being turned over in huge percentage terms towards bio-fuel and other alternative uses. We face the danger, at world and even European level, of not being able to produce enough food to satisfy the consumer at home and abroad. We cannot move away from that debate.

In this context we must be realistic with regard to both farmers' markets and organic food production. These are emerging sectors which need to be developed. These markets are a fine showcase for local food productions in many towns, with Darina Allen springing to mind in County Cork as a pioneer of the sector. The Midleton market every Saturday morning is thriving, with people coming from all over Cork and the larger area of Munster. In my own area there is a farmers' market in the Nano Nagle centre in Killavullen which is going very well.

These are very welcome and the local authorities must continue to play a very proactive role in allowing these markets to expand and develop to their maximum potential. With regard to the production of food for these markets, I welcome the progress made in schemes such as the REPS, in which I know the Minister of State has an interest, and the grants for organic farming. At a time when so many young people have moved away from a career in agriculture and when we must reflect on how to again portray agriculture as a viable and vibrant career for young people, further money should be invested in the REPS, organic programmes and the farm installation grant, which would give people a direct cash injection to start up a farming business.

In one sense, we should never need to speak about organic food or the horticultural industry in Ireland because of the quality of our land and the tradition of quality farming. From a European and world perspective, Ireland is almost seen as a green centre of food and horticultural excellence. We should continue to build on that.

The Minister of State will be aware of the suggestion continuously made by my party in recent years regarding a green food label for food produced in Ireland. That is not entirely related to this morning's debate but we must reflect on it to ensure Ireland retains its name for green and safe quality foods in the eyes of European and world consumers.

The Minister of State stated accurately that not all food sold in farmers' markets is organic. His comments were realistic and perhaps the consumer requires further education in that regard. At least we are having this debate at a time when the consumer is much more open to learning about quality food and is more understanding of the concept of food miles and environmental concern and damage.

In a sense, the ball is on the penalty spot and the goalkeeper is gone. It is only a question of putting the ball into the net if we can plan a strategy for our food marketing, our green Ireland image and our quality control in a deliberate and progressive fashion. I am sure the Minister of State will lead the way in that regard.

Some of the statistics are in one way impressive but in another show the size of the market about which we are speaking. Some 35,000 hectares of land are being farmed organically in Ireland, which is probably slightly less than 1% of our landmass. We should aim to significantly increase that proportion of land used for producing food organically. This will not answer all the questions over the future of Irish farming or future food supply but it is an important sector on which we can build.

I am not sure of the accuracy of the statistics but I am advised the organic retail market in Ireland is currently valued at approximately €70 million and rising. That is a welcome figure, as every €1 million of food produced at home and consumed locally is good for the Irish economy. Taking into account the concept of food miles, it is also good for the environment. We welcome the progress made here but, to recall a phrase from another almost forgotten era, there is a lot done, more to do.

I wish the Minister of State well in his endeavours and I know of his personal commitment to the matter. His programmes on green food, food markets and organic food will come about side by side with the global picture of the future production of food for Europe and the world. Organic and farmers' markets, although small in percentage terms, are valuable in other terms. We support them and look forward to the Minister of State progressing and expanding the sector.