Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)

The contributions from Senators Feargal Quinn and Pat O'Neill pose the question of achieving a balance between produce sourced inside and outside Ireland. There are significant benefits, including jobs and so on from Senator Quinn's suggestions but, equally we must ensure we take care of our own producers. Tesco was slaughtering 50 Irish organic cattle and they then began to source the cattle in Argentina, reducing the number of Irish cattle to one or two a week, now the number has increased to 30 per week. Has the Minister considered imposing certain limits on multinationals, that they use 70% Irish produce and 30% sourced abroad. We need to find a solution so there is respect for the home producer and at the same time respecting entrepreneurship.