Aideen Hayden (Labour) | Oireachtas source

On food and food quality, a recent United Kingdom survey stated that the number of consumers who felt they were getting enough fruit and vegetables in their diet had fallen in the course of the recession, from 60% to 48%, and there was evidence that the recession is driving the race to the bottom in terms of consumers buying cheap processed food because the evidence is that it is more expensive to buy good food than to buy cheap food.

In my lifetime the role in Ireland of the large supermarkets, in particular that of the large international multiples, has been significant in driving out many small supermarkets and grocers. Does Ms McGuinness think the EU does enough to promote direct access on the part of the consumer to food, such as through supporting ventures such as farmers' markets where cheaper good quality fruit and vegetables can be made available to consumers?