John Carty (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister, Deputy Brendan Smith, to the Seanad to discuss the Food Harvest 2020 report. I compliment him on a fine contribution in which he outlined his plans for the coming years and to have the committee up and running in a positive fashion.

Food Harvest 2020 is a vision for Ireland's most important indigenous industry. This sector has an annual output of more than €24 billion and employs more than 150,000 people. We export goods worth up to €8 billion to 160 countries every year. At the launch of the Food Harvest 2020 report the Taoiseach stated that Ireland's future economic growth will be driven by the export of goods and services stimulating activity and employment throughout the rest of the economy.

The agrifood sector is part of the expert-led recovery which the Government is pursuing. This is an area in which we have huge expertise, built assiduously over the years, and our export markets have proven that. Our farmer producers have always risen to the occasion in producing quality goods that can take their place in any market, whether it be dairy, beef, pigmeat, poultry or the drinks section of the industry.

This report shows the agrifood sector can produce real returns and grow by one third to €12 billion annually while increasing the value of primary production by our farmers and fishermen by €1.5 billion and value added in the processing by €3 billion.