Mr. Frank Ryan:

The dairy and beef funds were put in place by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, on whose behalf we are required to administer them. The dispensing of funds by Enterprise Ireland is coming to an end.

What has been achieved on the dairy side is impressive. The removal of the milk quota in 2015 will present an opportunity, as set out under Harvest 2020, to increase dairy production by 60%. I assure the committee that Enterprise Ireland is working with the dairy sector on the role the latter can play in ensuring that the increased production is carried out as efficiently as possible and with as much value added to the State as possible.

Ireland has 30 beef abattoirs. In 2012, they slaughtered 1.5 million cattle. We understand that three companies control approximately 56% of the market, with the balance widely held by the other abattoirs. Many beef abattoirs do not slaughter on a five-day week. There is little sign of an over-concentration of production capacity in the beef sector.

We have an opportunity to secure the future of Ireland's food industry for the next ten to 20 years. How we manage the period up to 2020 will decide that future. In terms of technology and sophistication of the product, the dairy side is probably further ahead than the beef side. The dairy side has focused on the ingredients world, where the mark-up and value added are much greater. There is an opportunity for a similar approach to be taken on the beef side. We are in discussions with some of the companies regarding ingredients that might be found in the beef area that could become high-mark-up items.

Enterprise Ireland is playing a full and active role. We are represented on the Harvest 2020 committee. We are very awake to the opportunities.