Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 to 11, inclusive, together.

The Government believes the bioeconomy can ensure more efficient use of renewable resources and support sustainable economic development and employment in rural Ireland. In simple terms, the bioeconomy involves the production of renewable biological resources and the conversion of these resources and waste streams into value added products such as food, biopharmaceuticals and bioenergy.

An interdepartmental group, bringing together the Departments and agencies involved in the bioeconomy and chaired by my Department, was established in November 2016. This group carried out a detailed scoping exercise to identify current and potential activities in the area, as well as stakeholder workshops and a public consultation.

Following extensive engagement and consultation, officials in my Department prepared the first national policy statement on the bioeconomy. The Government published the policy statement on 12 March. This delivered on commitments given in the Action Plan for Jobs and the Action Plan for Rural Development.

The Government's vision for the bioeconomy is for Ireland to be a global leader through a co-ordinated approach that fully harnesses Ireland's natural resources and competitive advantages. The statement sets out some guiding principles and several strategic policy objectives aimed at expanding the bioeconomy. It focuses on three pillars, namely, investments in research, innovation and skills; development of markets and competitiveness; and reinforced policy co-ordination and stakeholder engagement.

It seeks also to build on the recently launched Bioeconomy Research Centre funded by Science Foundation Ireland in conjunction with industry investment. The centre will be a catalyst for the future development of the bioeconomy in Ireland. There will also be a focus on availing of funding to the maximum extent possible from the European Commission and combining this with resources from the private sector.

The Government has established an implementation group, jointly chaired by the Departments of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and Communications, Climate Action and Environment, to ensure there is coherence between all sectoral strategies which impact on the bioeconomy; identify regulatory and other barriers to growth and how these might be overcome; and examine specific opportunities for development.

The group will submit its first report to Government on these matters by the end of 2018 through Cabinet committee A which deals with matters pertaining to the economy, jobs and rural development.

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