Minister says farmers, processors, export bodies can’t agree on labels
Food Minister Noel Treacy revealed this in the Dail, when replying to a debate on the bill to merge Bord Bia and Bord Glas that included a wide ranging contribution by Deputy Ned O’Keeffe.
“Until an agreement can be secured, the advice available to us is that it may be detrimental to Irish marketing if we insist on that position. We have established a sub-group of the main group to try to draft a conclusive recommendation, so we can hang a single flag for Ireland on all products leaving this country for sale on global markets,” he said.
Minister Treacy said he agreed with Deputy O’Keeffe’s remarks regarding Kerrygold, which is a major brand name for Ireland. It is a brand product and the green label gives it the Irish flavour without the distinctive label of Ireland as the country of origin.
“The Deputy also referred to the own-label situation. This is based on providing transparency and an assurance for the consumer from the multiples that the product being sold is from a clearly identified location. It is important and has worked well, and it is to be hoped that we can capitalise on it and develop it further in the future,” he said.
He could not understand why members of parliament or the farming organisations say agriculture is in decline. All over the world, the numbers involved in agriculture were fewer. This situation was not unique to Ireland. “If we want to live in utopia, put a steel wall around the country and say we will produce and consume our own, we will have a 90% surplus of agricultural produce in the country. That would be a crazy way to run this island. We need a situation where we have access to the European Union market.”
Mr Treacy said Fianna Fáil led this country into the Union in the 1970s, and negotiated from the 1960s through the 1970s to change everything.
“Prior to joining the European Union in 1973, we exported 75% of all our produce to Britain. Since then we have quadrupled our exports to Britain, but these now only form 24% of the total volume of our exports. This demonstrates the distance we have travelled, the production capacity we have achieved, the number of people involved in a productive capacity, the number of jobs created and the great opportunities in the industry”.
Minister Treacy said the Kerry Group is probably one of the leading food companies in the world on the global stage. Glanbia, Green Isle, Anglo Irish, Dawn and Baileys are companies which export and operate throughout the world.
“We should be proud of them and recognise that they have played a huge role and have been flagship companies for Ireland,” he said.
Minister Treacy said: “We live in a global marketplace. We open markets across Europe and the world and are part of a World Trade Organisation situation and must, therefore, accept that a certain amount of products will come into our country. I did some research into the reason other food products are imported here, whether beef, chicken or whatever. They come because we have a good economy and people want a choice.
“More particularly, they come because suppliers are able to get a guaranteed price on the product for a 12 month period and can do their planning and accounts, know their profits and conduct their business. We cannot get that on the market here. In our flexible market, when the price rises, the purchasers are charged a higher price, but when the price goes down, the purchasers are charged the same price.
“The people here involved in production, supply and procurement will have to look forward and give this same 12 month guarantee on prices. This is the only way forward.”
“We can never eliminate competition, because it is always good to have some. It would be a serious matter to be in a position where competition was eliminated. However, we must ensure that we work together to provide stability in the market, by giving continuity of price over a 12 month period, and taking the ups and downs and flexibilities of the market, to ensure trade and business can compete,” he said.
