7. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department will again be supporting a national organic food fair which took place in Merrion Square in 2024; whether smaller fairs might be supported in other smaller Dublin or urban parks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13804/25]

Sentiment score: 0.26

I congratulate the Minister and all the other Ministers on their roles and wish them well in their brief. They might not see me here much but this is an issue of interest to me. It is about the farm-to-fork philosophy. A very successful organic food fair was run in Merrion Square last year. My question is on whether it will be funded again this year. Second, can the type of funding that went towards that fair be extended to parks and other urban areas, not just in Dublin?

Sentiment score: 0.41

I thank the Minister of State and I welcome his support for the funding of farmers' markets and organic food fairs. In all seriousness, these fairs are a very good way of bridging some of the differences and divides between rural and urban Ireland and fostering a greater understanding and appreciation of rural Ireland in urban environments but crucially, there is a real economic value to this. Most of the new restaurants that emerge in Dublin or Cork or wherever are built off the ethos of farm to fork. That is where the punters are going. That is where they are spending their money. Other European countries are very proud of promoting the food manifesto. In particular, one of the ways the Nordic countries have to encourage people to visit is the thriving restaurant sectors they have. We know the challenges the restaurant sector right across Ireland faces and that is why this Government has committed to reducing the VAT rate to 9% in the lifetime of this Government. That will be a very important measure as they deal with their cost of business. Equally, it is about promoting the philosophies that underpin these restaurants as well.

Sentiment score: 0.40

I thank the Minister and it is great to hear that. It is important to reiterate the importance of the funding for projects right across the country, including ones that will take place in my own constituency in Merrion Square. Ultimately, if we want to have a successful, thriving food culture and a thriving restaurant sector in Dublin, it is about promoting these farmers' markets everywhere. It is something the Department could perhaps look at to not just target the major events like a park in Merrion Square that everybody is visiting but perhaps the smaller parks. In the Dublin City Council area, lots of markets take place every weekend such as in Herbert Park or St. Anne's Park, which are not in my constituency. A lot of the people who are attending those parks to sell their goods are selling organic produce and perhaps there is more the Department could do to fund smaller projects like that.

Sentiment score: 0.43