Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 44: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will set up a development strategy group for the pig industry as requested by the IFA, IAPP, and Teagasc; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30141/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has a multifaceted strategy in place to assist the development and viability of the pig industry.

The main current concern for the sector is the erosion of profit margins due to the very high cost of feeding stuffs. I have, in recent times, worked with my EU colleagues, both at Council and bilaterally, to put in place steps aimed at improving the situation and ameliorating some of the difficulties being caused by the increased cost of inputs. These steps include a suspension of the obligation to set 10% of arable land aside. The European Commission is also examining ways of synchronising the authorisation process for Genetically Modified feedstuffs in the EU and the US to try to improve the efficiency of these arrangements.

I will continue to pursue appropriate measures aimed at addressing current income difficulties. A scheme of financial assistance for the private storage of pigmeat was put in place in recent weeks. This was adopted by the European Commission in response to a request from me and some other Member States. I have also impressed on the Commission the desirability of export refunds for fresh and frozen pigmeat and this will be kept under consideration.

An area of major importance for the future of the pig sector is the question of compliance with legislation on the protection of the environment. This will have significant cost implications as well as giving rise to operational complexities for producers. I have established the Intensive Livestock Group to assist the pig and poultry sectors to find solutions to manure disposal problems arising from the nitrates regulations. Pig producers and processors and Teagasc are represented on the ILG. The work of this group is continuing.

Pigmeat features prominently in Bord Bia's programme of promotion on the home and export markets. I have asked the Bord to intensify its national pork and bacon promotion campaign and additional funding is being made available for this. The Bord Bia quality assurance schemes are also a good tool in maintaining consumer confidence and, in this context, the pigmeat scheme is well established and managed.

On the export front, Bord Bia's marketing initiatives cover pigmeat. The sector is often involved in overseas promotion drives which occasionally involve the participation of pigmeat exporters. My Department maintains an extensive scheme of controls on the hygienic production of pigmeat and on the operational procedures that are required to underpin the certification of pigmeat for markets worldwide.

I am working with the Minister for Health and Children towards the introduction of legislation to provide better information to consumers on the origin of pigmeat and other meats. The public consultation on the proposed regulations has been completed and the comments received are being examined. Following that, the draft legislation will be notified to the European Commission.

Other relevant support actions include the extension of the farm waste management scheme to the pig sector and the programme of financial assistance for the transition to welfare-friendly sow housing as well as programmes for the monitoring and control of animal diseases.

Needless to say, all aspects of my Department's strategy for the pig sector require the involvement and co-operation of the people in that industry to succeed. My Department will continue to work closely with the representative associations for pig producers and processors, and any other bodies relevant to the subject in question, to develop and implement measures to ensure that the Irish pig sector goes on to retain its important contribution to the rural economy and export earnings.