Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 105: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress that has been made in relation to introducing Fair Trade products to his Department's offices and to setting a target date for making the canteens, cafeterias and restaurants under the control of his Department and its agencies use only Fair Trade tea, coffee, sugar and other products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23490/06]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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My Department's offices are spread over 8 separate buildings, none of which have cafeterias or restaurants. My Department has only a medium sized canteen in Davitt House and a very small canteen in Kildare Street. As indicated in my reply to a similar question by Deputy McManus last month, the tea, coffee, sugar and other products served in those two canteens are not confined to Fair Trade products which, I understand, is also the position in relation to any canteens, restaurants or cafes of the agencies under the aegis of my Department.

I have asked that consideration be given to the enhanced sale of Fair Trade tea, coffee, sugar and other products in my Department's two canteens and in those of the agencies under the aegis of my Department but it would not be appropriate to impose an obligation on the proprietors involved to use only Fair Trade products. Since the matter was raised by Deputy Liz McManus last month, I can confirm that the two canteens in my Department have introduced Fair Trade products for sale or are in the process of doing so, which is a development I very much welcome.