Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 52: 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. [32046/06]

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. The tea, coffee, sugar and other products served in those two canteens are not confined to Fair Trade products. However, I can confirm that both canteens have introduced Fair Trade products for sale or are in the process of doing so. I have again asked that consideration be given to the enhanced sale of Fair Trade tea, coffee, sugar and other products in my Department's two small canteens.

As regards the agencies under the control of my Department, you may wish to know that last June my Department wrote to all of the agencies involved drawing attention to this issue and asking, on my behalf, that consideration be given to the enhanced sale of Fair Trade products in the canteens, cafeterias or restaurants of those agencies.

The replies received by my Department indicate support for this initiative and the majority of the agencies involved have indicated that they have introduced Fair Trade tea, coffee, sugar and other products for sale or are in the process of doing so.

As regards the setting of a target date for the use of only Fair Trade tea, coffee, sugar and other products by my Department and its agencies, I feel that it would not be appropriate to impose such an obligation on the proprietors involved and that the correct course of action is to encourage those proprietors to promote the enhanced sale of Fair Trade tea, coffee, sugar and other products in the canteens etc. which they operate on behalf of my Department and its agencies.