Written answers

Tuesday, 13 May 2008

Department of Agriculture and Food

Food Industry

9:00 pm

Photo of Seán SherlockSeán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 359: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the progress made in regard to the commitment given in the programme for Government to establish a high-level strategic interdepartmental group whose role will be to, on an ongoing basis, identify and work to ease access and fully exploit new overseas markets for Irish food and drink products. [18137/08]

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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A high level interdepartmental group has been established and has met twice to discuss issues of a cross departmental nature such as CAP/WTO, energy costs, waste management, regulation and market access. The composition of a high-level strategic market access group and its terms of reference have also been agreed. The group will comprise representatives from the Departments of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Foreign Affairs and Enterprise, Trade and Employment. Bord Bia, Enterprise Ireland and Bord Iascaigh Mhara will also be represented. In addition, a meat market access group comprising of my Department, Bord Bia and the Meat Industry was established and has met on 6 occasions. In this context significant progress has been made regarding access to markets such as Saudi Arabia, South Africa, the UAE and a number of emerging markets.

Photo of Seán SherlockSeán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 360: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the progress made in regard to the commitment given in the programme for Government to increase funding to An Bord Bia for overseas promotion of Irish food and agricultural produce. [18138/08]

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Bord Bia's budget was increased by a Supplementary Estimate of €1.2 million in 2007 to enable it inter alia to expand promotional activity for beef and the increased funding level was maintained in this year's Estimates. 2007 was the third year of Bord Bia's pan European Autumn Beef Promotion which involved promotion of beef in 13 export markets, covering the UK and Continental Europe. Thirty-eight European retailers participated throughout 10,000 supermarket stores with a potential reach of over 100 million consumers. The success of the promotional strategy can be measured by the fact that 97% of Irish beef exports are now destined for the higher-value EU market, compared to 50% as recently as 2000. The Government's Asia strategy includes a target to double food and drink exports over the years 2005-2009 to €400 million. Irish food and drink exports to Asia increased by 50% in 2007, with strong progress made on dairy ingredients and alcoholic beverages contributing to the target being achieved two years ahead of schedule.

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