Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Last week my colleague, Senator Feargal Quinn, spoke about the number of, allegedly, Irish manufactured products on our supermarket shelves and advised that we be more careful if we wish to support Irish goods. In that context, I raise the issue of a product which I understood was manufactured in Clara in County Offaly. I now refrain from even mentioning the product because I had a communication from the managing director of the company concerned to say the particular toothpaste is no longer manufactured in Ireland. Production has been relocated, for reasons best know to the people who own the company. Although the toothpaste is available in Ireland it is not manufactured in this country. The good news is that the company in Clara is marketing and promoting an Irish made toothpaste. It is the only one on the Irish market and is called Péarla.

It is available in Aldi. I make no apologies for saying this. The House and the Government would agree that, coming up to Christmas, we must actively support any product in stores that is good value and made in Ireland to ensure that we not only maintain jobs but create jobs if there is an increase in sales. There are 50 people employed in the Clara facility. They are relying exclusively on the goodwill and good taste of the Irish people. The toothpaste is priced at a very competitive ¤2 and there is no reason that anybody should buy a foreign made toothpaste when there is an Irish made one available. In that context, will there be an opportunity to hear what the Government's policy is on this aspect of job creation? There might be an opportunity before Christmas during one of the debates with the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Richard Bruton.