Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 223: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she had involvement with the 85 growers who were supplying turkeys to a company (details supplied) in County Monaghan; if she has plans to provide funding to help these growers to transform their houses for other use, such as production of chickens or to compensate them in any way for their loss of income through no fault of their own other than the fact they are competing with imports that can be sold as Irish products because of the failure to bring in proper labelling legislation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11000/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The decision by Grove Turkeys to rationalise was a commercial one for the company itself, but I fully understand the difficulties these growers are now faced with. There is no scope under EU Common Market Regulations to give financial support or aid to these producers and it would not be possible under State Aid rules. If any producer decides that they wish to consider free range chicken production, my officials will be pleased to offer advice. My Department, in conjunction with the Department of Health and Children, drafted regulations that would require an indication of country of origin on poultrymeat, pigmeat and sheepmeat. The draft regulations were notified to the European Commission in December. I have written to Commissioner Fischer-Boel emphasising the importance of better origin labelling.