Eamon Scanlon (Fianna Fail)

I am still not sure but as a former Minister for Agriculture, Mr. Dukes has vast experience in that sector and has much to offer. The committee comprised some of the most senior figures in the sector, including leaders from farming organisations and the agricultural industry. It also took into account a wide variety of other reports and sources, including the enterprise strategy group.

This plan is based on a well-founded belief that the Irish agrifood sector, including farmers and food and drink manufacturers, can compete with the best in the world when that objective is pursued with significant focus, determination and skill. The plan sets out a new vision for the future of the sector in light of new changes impacting upon it, such as the change to a decoupled payment regime, a more liberalised trade policy, lifestyle changes, the clear emergence of new technology, research and development, significant market changes, and major changes in the structure of farming and retailing.

The plan focuses on three requirements for success in the light of these challenges, namely, competitiveness, innovation and consumer-focus marketing. Competitiveness is not optional for such an export-oriented sector and it is the primary objective on which this plan is based. In the modern high-tech food industry, technological progress and product innovation are unremitting and vital to the future of the sector. Meeting consumer demands on product presentation and price is also critical to our continuing success.

The plan presents not only a broad vision for the future of the sector but also contains 166 specific actions to be implemented in the near future. Action will be taken under a series of headings which, as the Minister emphasises, are focused on the objective of ensuring that the Irish agrifood sector compares with the best in the EU and beyond in terms of knowledge-based competitiveness, innovation and marketing.

As regards building the knowledge base and innovation, the Minister will prioritise increased Exchequer funding for research and development in the National Development Plan 2007-13. She has already shown her intent in this area by increasing research and development funding this year. The Minister has emphasised that competitiveness is literally a life or death issue for food firms and ultimately for the commercial future of our farms. For this reason, the longest chapter in the plan is on competitiveness, covering over 93 actions. One of the most important actions was announced last week — a substantial change in the milk quota system, which will commence in 2007. Arrangements are being made to introduce an open market system of transferring quotas designed to facilitate the consolidation of holdings, increase efficiency and contribute to more competitive milk production. This is an important development for commercial dairy farmers.

Many actions are also to be taken in other areas, such as small-scale enterprises, horticulture, the organic sector, forestry, renewable energy and rural development. I congratulate the Government and the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Noel Dempsey, for yesterday's announcement of grants for wood-burners. There has been a good reaction across the country to that announcement. It is the first time that people have been able to obtain a grant of up to €4,200 for installing such boilers.

The action plan for the future of the agrifood business sets out a positive vision for the future of the sector. It underlines the fact that delivering safe, high-quality and nutritious food produced in a sustainable manner to well-informed consumers and high-value markets is the optimum route for the future of the Irish food industry and therefore for the future of farmers in Ireland. It sets out 166 actions that are being, or will be, taken to fulfil this vision.

The large range of activities outlined in the plan makes it clear that the State and the taxpayer are doing their bit. It is vitally important that all private interests in the sector should also participate. I am convinced they will and I look forward to the establishment of the agrivision forum announced in chapter 7 of the report, which will bring all the relevant interests together to focus on the achievement of a common aim. The sooner that happens the better.

It is the Minister's intention to introduce country of origin labelling this year. It will be a crucial step, particularly for the beef industry, and should be introduced as quickly as possible. Consumers should know the origin of food they are eating, which is the case in every other sector. One can purchase bottles of wine for €3.99, as Senator Quinn is aware. Other wines, which are also popular, are selling quite well at €8.99 per bottle. If people have a choice and know exactly what they are buying, including the country of origin, they will pay the upper market price for Irish products which they can be assured are the best in the world.

Senator Coonan referred to the nitrates directive and, in fairness, we have heard a lot about this issue. It is important to be honest with people, particularly the farming community. In 1996, the then Minister for the Environment, Deputy Howlin, and the Minister for Agriculture, the former Deputy Ivan Yates, together with the IFA, signed up to a document on good farming practice. I am not saying this because Fine Gael was in Government at that time.