Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is important to recognise what Food Wise 2025 is. It is the industry's own stated ambition. It talks about growing the exports to nearly €19 billion and in that period achieving additional employment of 23,000 jobs. It is important to also acknowledge that we have been on a remarkable trajectory of growth in the industry, even through very challenging periods. Brexit is the challenge we face now. Previously, we faced the challenge of a banking collapse and a virtual economic collapse. Through all those years, this was the engine that continued to perform in sterling fashion. This is a significant challenge for us, but the view of all the industry stakeholders with whom I engage, and I chair the implementation committee on Brexit on a bi-monthly basis, is that never was it more important to have these identified actions that are necessary and to have a clear focus on the implementation of those actions. I share that analysis. It is not a time to fly the white flag and to diminish our ambition for the industry. On the contrary, while Brexit is a challenge, there are other opportunities. There is a growing global population. There is a demand for the kind of product that we are internationally renowned for and if we were to rescind from the opportunities that are there, even though we have a challenge in Brexit, it is undoubtedly the case that others would avail of the opportunity and put their products on supermarket shelves where ours currently are. We need to remain focused on the ambition and what is achievable. The roadblocks that are there have been created by Brexit, perhaps, and they may have been created by a whole host of other issues. It is important that we analyse how we can remove or circumnavigate any individual roadblock that is there rather than say we cannot do that so we will fold our tent and reduce our targets. It is an incredibly dynamic industry, populated by people who are driven by innovation, technology and energy. Everyday, whether the big or small players in the food industry, they are achieving amazing things. It would be a shame to say that we would walk away from the ambition in that document. On the contrary, it is time to double down on the ambition that is in it and drive on the implementation. That is why, within the Department, we have a much more intensive focus on the issues that are there. Brexit is but one of them.