Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 63: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps being taken to promote Fair Trade products both within and outside his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18615/07]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has only two small canteens and in the past year both canteens have introduced Fair Trade products. My Department encourages the use of Fair Trade products and in one of the canteens, only Fair Trade tea and coffee is on sale and a large poster advertising Fair Trade products is displayed for all staff to see.

As regards the agencies under the control of my Department, the Deputy may wish to know that in June 2006, my Department wrote to all of the agencies involved drawing attention to the importance of supporting Fair Trade products 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 in the canteens, cafeterias or restaurants of those agencies. The ongoing media publicity associated with Fair Trade should help to ensure that the sale of Fair Trade products will be enhanced in the canteens, cafeterias or restaurants of the agencies under the control of my Department and in the two small canteens of my Department.