Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 424: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food her views on the future development of the lamb and pig meat sectors, having regard for access to export markets; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25006/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The sheep industry strategy group established in December 2005 under the chairmanship of Mr. John Malone, former Secretary General of my Department, reported on 1 June 2006. Its report covers all aspects of the sector, including production, pricing, product development and promotion for different markets and consumer preferences. All sectors were represented in the group including the processors, producers, Teagasc, Enterprise Ireland, Bord Bia and my Department.

This is a very timely report coming as it does in the wake of decoupling of production from market supports when the industry not only faces a number of serious challenges but also has real opportunities for growth. The report therefore represents a comprehensive development plan to move the industry forward. The aim is to facilitate the development of a more profitable sheepmeat sector in Ireland. I am now in the process of setting up an agreed implementation structure in association with the main stakeholders involved.

Irish pigmeat has access to virtually all important markets EU and worldwide including Japan, which was particularly strong in 2005, as well as the USA. Producers in the pig sector are operating at a high level of efficiency. The Prospectus Study, which reported in 2001, was a comprehensive examination of the factors relevant to the future prosperity of the sector, in particular its competitiveness on home and international markets. The key recommendation centred on the need for rationalisation of primary processing facilities. There has been a good degree of rationalisation in the past couple of years and I believe the sector is well positioned to take on the challenges that lie ahead.

My Department is, and will continue to be, engaged in a wide range of activities that are critical to the ongoing development of the pig industry. These include national animal health programmes, the monitoring of compliance with food safety controls at production premises, the administration of production controls and certification for individual third country markets, and improving access to new markets. Pigmeat also features prominently on Bord Bia's programme of promotion on home and export markets. I and my officials are continuously engaged with the board for the purpose of identifying and developing these markets, in particular a most promising and potential market at present is China.

Last year I signed a protocol with my Chinese counterpart to facilitate the commencement of direct trade in Irish pigmeat to that country. We have since had a veterinary delegation here from China to inspect our meat plants and we are now in the final stages of completing the process. I expect pigmeat exports to that destination to start in the near future.