Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The regulation of produce labelling is not the responsibility of the Department of Foreign Affairs, but is overseen by a number of domestic Departments. In my reply to Question number 299 on 9 November 2010, I reported to the House on the results of my Department's discussion of this issue with those Departments. Taking the matter further forward within the regulatory framework would be a matter for those Ministers and Departments. However, in my reply to that Question I also stated my own view that many consumers would wish to be aware if they were being asked to purchase produce originating in illegal Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territories, and I indicated how this could be done, as follows:

"It is important to be clear that, just as in the UK, there is nothing to stop Irish retailers now, if they wish, from clearly labelling goods to distinguish settlement produce. They could do so along the same simple and obvious lines as in the DEFRA guidelines, as either 'Produce of the West Bank (Palestinian produce)' or 'Produce of the West Bank (Israeli settlement)', or any similar wording."

I have placed that Parliamentary Reply on my Department's website, where it may be viewed by or cited to retailers or members of the public.