Will the State provide marketing aids for such enterprises and take responsibility for marketing some of their produce in the formative years because that is when the difficulty arises?

The Deputy should rise in his place if he wants to put a question.

Will the Minister say whether he would be prepared to accept some of the responsibility of marketing the products from alternative enterprises in their formative years because experience has shown that many alternative industries, especially agri-businesses, have failed on account of difficulties encountered in the market place, because of lack of know-how, finance, and generally because of failure to penetrate the market? In the formative years of such businesses would the Minister consider that the State should take a direct interest in marketing such products, through agencies such as Bord Bainne?

The Department of Agriculture and Food are placing particular emphasis on what is generally described as beyond-the-farm gate activities. The same will apply in relation to alternative enterprises. We appreciate industries must be market-led in the early years in particular when the marketing of the produce of such enterprises will have to be given priority. I can assure the Deputy we will give such enterprises every assistance.