Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 37: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the steps she will take to ensure the viability of the Irish pig industry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7055/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I am very aware of the difficulties facing the pig sector and will continue to pursue appropriate actions to alleviate them. The problems are attributable to a number of factors such as the cyclical nature of the industry, the high cost of feed and the strength of the euro, which adversely affects exports to non-EU countries.

The cost and availability of feed are critical considerations. At EU level, I and other colleagues were successful in ensuring that setaside land would be available for cultivation. It was also agreed that import duties on certain imported feed should be abolished. I continue to pursue greater synchronisation of the approval processes for genetically modified feedstuffs between the EU and other countries as this would expedite the availability of feed to the pig sector.

I have been continually to the forefront also in seeking market support measures for pigmeat. The EU aid to private storage measure introduced last October helped to temporarily remove 100,000 tonnes from the market. I raised the situation in the pigmeat market with the Commissioner when I met her in Dublin some weeks ago and again at a bi-lateral meeting in Brussels on Monday of this week. As a result of interventions by like-minded colleagues and myself at this week's Council of Ministers, the EU Commission is presenting a proposal at today's management committee allowing the extension of private storage contracts. This should ensure that the release of product from storage will not disrupt the market. I have also argued strongly and successfully for the re-introduction of export refunds for fresh and frozen pigmeat. These were re-introduced last November and remain in place.

Another important support element is Bord Bia's programme of promotion on the home and export markets. I am glad to say that Bord Bia has intensified its national pork and bacon promotion campaign for which additional funding was made available. This campaign is backed up by the very successful Bord Bia pigmeat quality assurance scheme.

Labelling is another area in which I am taking action. 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 draft legislation is being examined by the European Commission and other Member States, which have until 14 March 2008 to make any comments on the proposed legislation. I have also written to Commissioner Fisher-Boel to reinforce the importance and necessity for origin labelling.

Finally, I would hope that the actions I have outlined would contribute to an early resolution of the difficulties in the pigmeat sector. There cannot be a guarantee that they will solve all the problems but I am convinced that they will make a very positive contribution.