A recent TV advertisement for Irish lamb was not the flavour of the month at the recent national potato conference.

The fact that a Bord Bia TV ad featured succulent Irish lamb accompanied by rice prompted delegates to ask why Irish taxpayers and farmers’ money should be used to promote imported produce when there is a perfectly good native alternative. And this at a time when Bord Bia itself was an active participant in a potato marketing and promotion campaign.

While there was widespread praise for the range of targeted potato promotions, the general view was that Irish lamb should be accompanied by Irish produce.