Kathryn Reilly (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Last year I raised the issue of food labelling and the agrifood sector.

Today, I was saddened to learn of the loss of 90 jobs in a poultry plant in County Cavan. The business credited its loss making to feed price rises, increasing energy costs, poor market prices and low quality imports. The Irish Farmers Association has expressed serious concerns about the future viability of the poultry sector and fears that it will be wiped out if its issues are not addressed. Given the importance of the agrifood sector to the economy and its status as an indigenous industry, will the Leader arrange for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Coveney, or the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Bruton, to attend the House to debate the industry and job creation and retention therein? I am referring to the wider agrifood sector as well as the specialised poultry industry.

Co-operative Poultry Products Limited in Cootehill, County Cavan, was in operation for more than 60 years and has now closed its doors. It is sad that we are losing indigenous companies and jobs, particularly given the fact that they are speckled across the State's rural and urban areas. We need to debate the issue of food processing in terms of Harvest 2020, job retention or imports. Will the Leader arrange for such a debate?