The use of French poultry in hospital catering has been defended by the Mid-Western Health Board after criticisms by an ICMSA poultry and milk producer.
Mr Michael Doody, a Limerick member of the ICMSA National Council, from Newcastle West, said at a time when Ireland was self-sufficient in poultry production and with the livelihoods of about 1,000 people in west Limerick dependent on the local poultry industry, it was beyond understanding why a State agency, such as the Mid-Western Health Board, set this bad example.
"With such a policy where is the commitment of our local public representatives on the board of the Mid-Western Health Board to helping the survival of the family-operated farms in west Limerick?" he asked.
A statement from the health board said that the board, as a public body funded by Government, was obliged to comply with internationally agreed regulations, EU and GATT, relating to public purchasing and the award of public contracts.
"The purpose of these regulations is to promote fair competition within the EU and international GATT areas. Fair competition ensures open and equal treatment for all suppliers meeting the relevant quality standards. We are precluded under these regulations from discriminating against suppliers from outside the home market," the statement said.
"All foodstuffs purchased by the board are subject to stringent testing and we are satisfied that the highest standards apply to food served up to our patients, visitors and staff," a spokeswoman added.
Now that the Government was aware of the foreign food sourcing practice of the health board, Mr Doody asked, would it act to stop one of its agencies endangering farmers' livelihoods and ensure that all of its other agencies did not act in a similar manner?