Why promote beef from South America?
I was very disappointed that a home-grown programme would promote South American beef when prices for our beef have fallen low enough to threaten the viability of beef farming in Ireland.
While Irish meats are subject to the strictest of regulations, the same does not apply in South America.
Irish beef is 100% traceable to the source of origin and is totally safe for the consumer.
In contrast, the IFA has stated that a 2005 report from the EU Food & Veterinary Office (FVO) on South American beef raised serious questions about consumer issues, including deficiencies in traceability, movement controls, animal health and hygiene.
The use of hormones in farming in South America - a practice banned in EU countries - should be a cause of serious concern for the Irish consumer.
The FVO have stated that even though the South American beef that Europe imports is supposed to be hormone-free, in practice this rule is not being enforced effectively.
At present 30% of our meat is imported from non-EU third countries, primarily Brazil and Argentina.
Unfortunately, if that meat is processed in Ireland, it can be sold as Irish beef.
This is unfair to the consumer.
I appeal to people to buy Irish when shopping for food and everything else. Our jobs and our communities depend on it.
Tom Hayes TD
Chairperson
Fine Gael Parliamentary Party
Dáil Éireann
Leinster House
Kildare Street
Dublin 2
