TD backs 'Buy Irish Food' Campaign

 

A local TD has called on consumers to make an extra effort to prioritise the purchase of Irish food products over the next few weeks in order to support workers and protect Irish businesses.

Sinn Féin's Pauline Tully has called for the launch of a ‘Buy Irish Food’ campaign in which consumers, retailers and producers all have an important role to play.

"It is important that every effort is made over the next few weeks to support Irish businesses and workers by prioritising the purchase of Irish food products,” she said.

The 'Buy Irish Food' campaign Sinn Féin believes could be vital in the effort to provide support to the country's food producers and workers in the sector.

"During this health pandemic we need to retain as much wealth within our own domestic economy if we are to protect businesses and jobs against any potential decline in export trade down the line.

"We are therefore asking consumers to double their efforts to prioritise the purchase of Irish food products during their weekly shop.

"Behind every Irish product is a worker and a farmer whose family who needs our support,” added Cavan-Monaghan Dáil representative

Asking that people read the label when they go out to shop and to prioritise Irish produce if they can, she asks that shoppers seek out those products marked with the Bord Bia Quality Mark.

"We are also asking producers and factories from this point on to design their labels to make it that much easier for consumers to identify Irish products in the shop.

"Retailers should also play their part by using a green label on the shelf below the product or to have an ‘Irish Origin' section in their shops.

"We all have a role to play in protecting our local economy and a ‘Buy Irish Food’ campaign would allow all of us to make a positive contribution to protect Irish jobs and Irish businesses,” the TD concluded.