Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 145: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the level of formal interaction between his Department and the Department of Agriculture and Food in relation to the development of the agrifood sector; the number of meetings which have taken place between officials from each Department in relation to this issue over the past twelve months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16731/06]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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My Department enjoys an excellent relationship with the Department of Agriculture and Food especially with regard to the agrifood sector. Contacts between officials of my Department and the Department of Agriculture and Food are numerous both in terms of occasions and channels.

Officials from both departments attend such meetings as the Monitoring Committee of the Productive Sector Operational Programme under the National Development Plan, the National Functional Foods Forum, and various Enterprise Ireland committees including the Investment Committee and the Productivity Improvement Fund Committee.

Constant and productive dialogue is maintained between the departments which is also reflected between the agencies of each department. Enterprise Ireland and Bord Bia work closely together on developing the agri-food sector and have formalised coordination in this regard through a Memorandum of Understanding agreed between the two agencies.

My Department will continue to work with the Department of Agriculture and Food to ensure that Ireland's agrifood sector is able to successfully compete in international markets.

Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 146: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the aspects of the Enterprise Strategy Group Report, which relate to the agrifood sector which are being developed by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16732/06]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Rather than providing policy prescriptions for separate sub sectors of the enterprise economy, the Enterprise Strategy Group's report presented a strategic approach to strengthening the competitiveness of the enterprise sector. In this context the Group proposed a range of recommendations to change broad enterprise policy and the way important supports are delivered to enterprise by the development agencies that report to my Department.

No specific recommendations of the Enterprise Strategy Group's report, Ahead of the Curve — Ireland's Place In The Global Economy, were addressed specifically to the agrifood sector. However, the changes taking place arising from the Government's ESG Action Plan and Enterprise Ireland's new strategy to transform Irish industry will improve the capacity of all firms to grow and compete in global markets.

Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 147: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the amount of funding allocated each year from 2002 to date by a company (details supplied) for the agrifood sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16742/06]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Science Foundation Ireland, the State Agency with responsibility for funding oriented basic research's, total commitment in Biotechnology to date is €200 million. Of this commitment, the investment in the Agrifood sector is €22.7M (or 11.35%). This can be broken down by year as follows: