Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

Increasing food prices and concerns regarding availability of food is a global situation, which is most severely affecting those people living in developing countries. This complex issue has many causes, including recurrent bad weather and changing and increasing food requirements among countries caused in particular by economic and population growth.

There is also an increasing global awareness that food security should not be taken for granted. Agriculture has a vital role to play, both in meeting food requirements and renewable energy, and in managing scarce water and soil resources. The critical role that agriculture plays highlights the continuing importance of the Common Agricultural Policy, which has all these concerns at its core. I spoke on this very point at the Agriculture Council meeting yesterday.

This underlines the role of Ireland as a major food exporting nation. The 2003 reforms of the CAP, with the introduction of the full decoupling of direct payments under the single payment scheme, allows farmers to respond to the demands of the market and effectively meet consumers' needs. The issue of security of food supply will play an important role in discussions about the future shape of the CAP both in the health check and in the proposed discussions about the CAP after 2013. Ireland will participate fully in those deliberations. At a global level we will also be participating in a high level FAO conference on the subject of global food security next month.

Although imports of certain commodities into the European Community may have increased, Ireland is a net exporter and is therefore not affected to the same extent as food deficit countries by global food shortages. Bord Bia produces annual estimates for the export performance of the Irish food and drink sector and has indicated that the agri-food sector increased its level of exports by 5% in 2007 to over €8.6 billion. There was marked growth in the exports of dairy products, food ingredients, prepared foods, beverages, horticulture and cereals.

It should be emphasised that there are in place a number of strategic plans operated by my Department which have the overall objective of developing and enhancing the capacity and competitiveness of the agriculture, food, forestry and fishing sectors.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

These include the Agri Vision 2015 Action Plan, the relevant commitments in Towards 2016, the national development plan and the rural development programme for the 2007-13 period, Steering a New Course, the seafood industry strategy, and the agriculture and marine research and development programmes in the national strategy for science, technology and innovation. These plans were compiled taking into account the views of the industry, farming organisations and other major stakeholders and are regularly monitored to ensure the relevant commitments are met on an ongoing basis.

My Department will continue to evaluate the changing international food markets and be aware of both the threats and opportunities that may arise.

See this speech in context