John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 395: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the percentage of food which is imported into Ireland; the amount of vegetables and meat produced here now and the amount 10 years ago; if she will provide the food trade deficit figures; her views on whether there is a problem with food security here in the case of a major crisis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16389/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland produces food products to the value of €16 billion and remains a net exporter of food and drink with exports valued at almost €7.6 billion and imports, mainly from within the EU, worth some €4.5 billion, leaving an estimated food trade surplus figure of €3.044 billion in 2005. The following table* shows the value of production of meat and vegetables over the last ten years. (Account is not taken of the change in the CAP support systems from market supports to direct payments).

I do not believe that Ireland has any cause for concern about food security. We are self sufficient in the major food products with self-sufficiency in meat overall at over 270%, (beef and veal alone 820%), drinking milk and cream close to 100%, cheese, milk powder and butter at 436%, 958% and 1,042% respectively, principal cereals at 90%. While we are net importers of fruit and vegetable, this largely reflects a demand for varied produce from EU and other markets rather than a deficit in potential production capacity.