Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 92: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food her views on the impending food security crisis; the measures she will take to ensure the Irish consumer is not adversely affected by global food shortages; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13022/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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There is an increasing awareness developing that food security cannot be taken for granted in a world where demand is rising rapidly and is expected to double by 2050. There is also a greater recognition of the key role that agriculture plays in managing scarce water and soil resources, and of the contribution it can make to renewable energy. All these trends in societal expectations underpin the importance of the CAP and of the European model of agriculture.

In that connection, the 2003 reforms of the CAP with the introduction of the full decoupling of direct payments under the Single Payment Scheme ensures that farmers now have the 'freedom to farm' and that the CAP is geared towards the demands of the market and consumers. The Single Payment Scheme is linked to food safety, animal welfare and environmental standards, and consumers are guaranteed a supply of safe food, produced to high animal welfare and environmental standards, at reasonable cost.

In this context, it is worth noting that the EU is by far the largest player on the world market. While imports of certain commodities into the Community may have increased, I believe that Ireland will remain a significant food producer and net exporter and will therefore not be affected to the same extent as food deficit countries by global food shortages. However we will need to continuously monitor international food markets and be alive to both the threats and opportunities that may arise.