Campaign under way to promote Fairtrade

A campaign to encourage cities and towns around the country to seek Fairtrade status was launched yesterday by the Young Green Party.

TDs, senators and civil servants were offered Fairtrade brand tea and coffee outside the Dáil to highlight the campaign by the Young Green Party, who called on State organisations to make a greater effort to use Fairtrade products.

The group also sent samples of Fairtrade coffee to the President, all TDs and the chairmen of the country's county and city councils.

The brand has a range of coffee, tea, chocolate, fruit, cocoa, snacks and biscuits, and guarantees a fair price to producers. The Fairtrade movement started when charities recognised that many in the Third World are poor not because they do not produce anything, but because they often receive little of the retail price for what they produce.

By buying directly from farmers at better prices, helping to strengthen their organisations and marketing their produce directly through shops and catalogues, Fairtrade offers consumers the opportunity to buy products at fair price.

Fairtrade status is awarded to cities and towns that encourage their citizens to use the products through a number of initiatives. These include passing a council motion encouraging the use of the products, stocking the products in shops and cafes and involving schools in education about fair trade.

There are currently eight towns and cities with Fairtrade status in Ireland. Clonakilty became Ireland's first, followed by Cork, Kilkenny, Kinsale, Waterford, Limerick, Galway and Thurles.

Dublin City Council recently passed a motion proposed by Labour councillor Eric Byrne, to make the city the first European Fairtrade capital. They are establishing a committee to formally apply for status.