Written answers

Thursday, 16 February 2006

Department of Agriculture and Food

Agriculture Policy

5:00 pm

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 212: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food her long-term plans for the development of the agricultural sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6286/06]

Photo of Mary CoughlanMary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The statement of strategy for my Department, which covers the period 2005 to 2007, sets out over 50 strategies that my Department is pursuing to help develop a sustainable, competitive, consumer-focused agri-food sector. The outcome of this work is presented in my Department's annual report. The annual report for the year 2005 is currently being compiled.

The agri-vision 2015 committee, chaired by Alan Dukes, undertook an examination of the changes likely to take place in the agri-food sector over the next ten years and made appropriate recommendations for action. In response, my Department is currently finalising an action plan for the future development of the sector. In the coming months, I will launch the 2015 action plan which will detail future plans and long-term strategies and will enable my Department and the relevant State agencies to work in tandem with farmers and the food sector to develop the full potential of this important industry in the coming years.

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 213: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the countries most likely to present serious competition to Irish agricultural exports on world markets in the future; her plans to address this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6287/06]

Photo of Mary CoughlanMary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland faces a wide variety of competitors on EU and world markets for the range of products we export. The ability to compete on agricultural markets is the based on a number of factors. These include the scale of production, exchange rates, price and the degree of competition within a particular market. The liberalisation of agriculture has made the marketplace for an export-orientated country like Ireland more competitive. To survive in this environment, the Irish agri-food sector must improve its productivity, reduce costs of production, invest in greater levels of research and development, become even more responsive to the demands of customers and increase the value of output sold.

The agri-vision 2015 committee, chaired by Alan Dukes, undertook an examination of the changes likely to take place in the agri-food sector over the next ten years and made appropriate recommendations for action particularly in the area of competitiveness. In response, my Department is currently finalising an action plan for the future development of the sector. In the coming months, I will launch the 2015 action plan which will detail future plans and long-term strategies and will enable my Department and the relevant State agencies to work in tandem with farmers and the food sector to develop their full competitive potential on all markets.

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 214: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food her plans for sustainability of the agricultural sector in the future in view of the impact of the WTO and CAP reform; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6288/06]

Photo of Mary CoughlanMary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I am satisfied that the most recent CAP reforms allied to the agreement in December last on the financial perspective for the period 2007 to 2013 will provide for a stable and sustainable agricultural sector in the years ahead. The outcome to the negotiations on the financial perspective represented a satisfactory outcome on policy for agriculture and rural development from Ireland's point of view. The overall objective of ensuring that adequate funding will be provided for the continuation of the CAP and rural development measures was achieved.

I am very conscious of the economic and social damage to Irish agriculture, the rural economy and the fabric of rural society which would result from an unfavourable outcome to the ongoing negotiations on a new WTO agreement.

The EU has positioned and prepared the CAP for the WTO negotiations through the CAP reforms of the Agenda 2000 agreement and the mid-term review. While Ireland remains committed in overall terms to negotiation of a new round, the objective is to ensure the continuation of the highest possible level of protection and support for the agri-food sector and, in particular, to ensure that the actual reductions in support and protection which the EU will be required to implement under a new round will not necessitate a further reform of the CAP. I will continue to work closely with both Commissioners Mandelson and Fischer Boel and my colleagues in the Council of Ministers to protect the interests of the Irish agri-food sector.

At national level, the agri-vision report which was commissioned by my predecessor identified the rapidly changing nature of Irish agriculture and the issues facing the agriculture and food industries, including the need for market-driven production and greater levels of productivity. The report set out a framework for the future and the actions and changes that are required. The report placed great emphasis on meeting consumer requirements and the role of competitiveness in the context of an increasingly global market. I will be producing a plan of action in the near future that will set out a clear programme of work for my Department and other interests in the agri-food sector to enhance competitiveness and to fulfil the productive potential to meet consumer demands into the future.

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