Food writer and broadcaster Ms Darina Allen has defended the cost of good quality food in top Irish restaurants, following a criticism of prices in Ireland compared to other countries.
Ms Allen, who yesterday launched a series of guest lectures at the Waterford Institute of Technology, said many unfair comparisons were being made between Irish and continental cuisine costs.
"The problem is that VAT on food in this country is three times that of Spain, yet people expect prices to match. Insurance, labour and other overheads are all contributing to the cost of eating out in quality establishments here. While I acknowledge that there are examples of poor-quality catering, Ireland has very high standards in some instances and we must build on that."
The proprietor of the internationally renowned Ballymaloe Cooking School at Shanagarry, Co Cork, said unfair criticism of the industry could only lead to corner-cutting in the industry, resulting in poor quality food which could tarnish Ireland's reputation.
"Good food in Ireland is very good and we have to pay for it - we cannot give it away for nothing, it is difficult to make money out of providing good food."
Ms Allen said she believed Irish people had forgotten the importance of healthy, wholesome food. "What we eat determines our good health," she said. "So much depends on the quality of food we eat but, if the truth were known, many of us look after our cars better than we look after ourselves.
"Food can be our best medicine. In all ancient cultures, people understood that what they ate had a deep effect on their well-being. We as a people are now living on the inherited good health from our ancestors, which was attributable to the quality of food they consumed."
Ms Allen said people's health and well-being could be improved dramatically by changing their eating habits.
"Food shopping is the most important task of the week, what goes into the shopping basket determines how well we eat. It is ironic that people do not mind spending money on vitamin supplements or on going to the doctor, but they are reluctant to spend that extra bit on getting really good quality food.
"I believe that good organic food is worth every penny paid for it - it is not a luxury, it is a necessity for good health."
The line-up of speakers at the WIT public lectures covers a wide range of interests and includes such well-known names as author and historian, Prof Roy Foster, Prof Declan Kiberd of UCD, as well as gardener and broadcaster, Ms Helen Dillon.
WIT director, Prof Kieran R. Byrne, said the institute hosted the series to inspire debate on a number of vital issues.
"Our guest lecturers will be exploring the highest reaches of theology and philosophy, probing the issues which are central to current cultural debates in Ireland and, at the same time, keeping an audience from across the south east region informed and entertained on such popular topics as cooking and gardening," Prof Byrne said.