Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I want to raise the issue of horticulture and Bord Bia's Making a World of Difference strategy document, which is part of the programme for Government. It might be no harm at some stage to request the Minister to come into this House - I appreciate he was in the House recently - to deal specifically with the horticulture industry. It is a very important part of the agriculture sector and the economy. I refer to the way in which we can develop our sugar beet industry. There is now a view that we should be developing that industry again. I refer also to increasing our potato production. One of the targets Bord Bia has set in its 21 key action points in its policy refers to how can potato production be increased. We need to increase it and the market needs that also. There is a demand for it, so how can we increase potato production and the production of soft fruits and berries in terms of food, jams and preserves? There is a demand for them. Bord Bia has identified a real demand for Irish soft food production, and also for salads and organics. There are 21 key objectives in this horticulture document the Government has adopted, which is Bord Bia's strategy up to 2022. It is about making a world of a difference and growing our horticulture industry. I would appreciate if the Leader would ask the Minister of State, Deputy Doyle, to come into the House for a debate on that, but specifically to focus on the 21 action items in the Bord Bia policy on horticulture.