Killeen Urges Retail Sector To Support Irish Food Suppliers And Producers

Minister Killeen said that while it was important for retailers to offer consumers value for money, it was imperative that the Irish retail sector continued to support domestic producers and suppliers.

The Clare T.D. explained, "The Irish Agri-food is Ireland’s most important indigenous sector, providing hundreds of thousands of jobs throughout every county in the country, at both producer and processor level. I welcome the move by my Ministerial colleague Brendan Smith T.D. to initiate a series of meetings with large retailers. Minister Smith has impressed upon them the benefits of continuing to support, source and make available as wide and comprehensive a range of Irish products as possible."

Minister Killeen said the retail sector had a key role to play in helping the country to maintain a robust food industry that provided an outlet for our producers and added value to the primary product.

"While it is important that consumers continue to get value from retailers, it should be pointed out that a fair return to suppliers and producers is essential to the maintenance of thousands of Irish jobs and the survival of primary producers", he concluded.

-ENDS-

Notes to Editor:
- Tony Killeen T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (with special responsibility for Fisheries, Forestry and the Marine), is available for interview and further comment on 0035387-2525304
- High-resolution images of Minister Killeen are available on request. Please contact Mark Dunphy of Dunphy Public Relations on 00353868534900 or media@dunphypr.com