Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 352: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the progress made in regard to the commitment given in the programme for Government to encourage and support the development of high value added branded seafood exports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18285/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Irish seafood is in high demand; it is a healthy low fat, nutritious food source, which is in high demand both here and elsewhere in the EU and other markets. The Government approved strategy for development of the Irish Seafood Industry, Steering a New Course (the Cawley Report), contains a number of provisions set-out for encouraging and supporting the development of high value seafood exports. A Seafood Strategy Implementation Group (SSIG), chaired by Dr Noel Cawley, has been established. This group is actively supporting and driving the delivery of the recommendations in the report. BIM promotes seafood on both the Irish market and core EU markets (France, UK, Spain, Germany and Italy). Market Development initiatives undertaken at BIM include increased investment in market intelligence and expanding trade development staff so as to exploit buoyant consumer markets in the core EU countries. Recently a seafood industry group visited Italy with a view to assessing and further developing sales of high value seafood there. Other markets outside EU are dealt with on a case by case cost benefit basis. Furthermore, BIM offer a co-funded Marketing Investment Programme (MIP) with seafood companies focussing on seafood marketing activities in the EU.

BIM have also recently developed a business plan — Developing Market-led innovation in the Irish Seafood Sector, which is intended to boost the valued-adding potential of seafood exports from Ireland. It is intended that seafood innovation would be supported by the development of a State of the art Innovation Centre in a new facility in Clonakilty and the deployment of food technologists and business development staff regionally. It is important to note that Article 40 (2) of Council Regulation (EC) 1198/2006 which refers to the development of new markets and promotional campaigns states that "The operations may not be aimed at commercial brands or make reference to specific countries or geographical areas, . . . ". This prohibits promotional activity on "Irish Seafood" specifically.