David Norris (Independent)

Senators may be surprised to find I am interested in farming but my grandfather was a farmer and my maternal ancestors had land in County Laois for many centuries. I compliment the Minister on the work he has been doing and I am glad the Government has negotiated some improvement in fisheries. Like other Senators, I received a document from the IFA which showed that farm incomes have increased. I welcome this increase, which farmers have needed badly for a long time.

My question pertains to free range pig farming. A couple based in the Minister's constituency run a very good business supplying free range pork. However, a difficulty has arisen in regard to labelling. Can anything be done about this issue? I understand that a business can register the description "free range pork" as a trading name and its products can be sold in supermarkets as free range pork simply because it is produced by a company with that phrase as its registered business name. Is it possible to introduce regulations to define what can be described as free range? The best definition is that given by the aforementioned husband and wife team, whose name I cannot recall. They allow their animals to range freely out in the open, with access to food and shelter as necessary, and the quality of their meat is significantly different as a result. If something can be done about the issue through regulation, it would be welcomed by this valuable niche industry.