Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 402: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food his short, medium and long-term plans for the development of the agriculture and fishing sectors with particular reference to the need to develop and expand the industries with the ability to compete on international markets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25972/08]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 413: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food his proposals for the ongoing developments of agriculture here in the next five years with particular reference to maintaining existing markets for Irish produce in addition to opening new markets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25983/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 402 and 413 together.

There are in place a number of strategic plans operated by my Department which have the overall objective of developing and enhancing the capacity and competitiveness of the agriculture, food, forestry and fishing sectors. These include the Agri Vision 2015 Action Plan, the relevant commitments in Towards 2016, the National Development Plan and the Rural Development Programme for the 2007-2103 period, Steering a New Course — the seafood industry strategy and the agriculture and marine research development programmes in the National Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation. These plans were compiled taking into account the views of the industry, farming organisations and other major stakeholders and are regularly monitored to ensure that the relevant commitments are met on an ongoing basis.

As regards the maintenance and development of markets for Irish produce, Bord Bia will continue to play a prominent role in supporting the industry, both on internal and external markets. Furthermore, the Programme for Government of June 2007 provides for the establishment of a high-level interdepartmental group whose role an ongoing basis, will be to identify and work to ease access and fully exploit new overseas markets for Irish food and drink products. This newly formed Group met recently and agreed a programme of work to deliver on its terms of reference, which are:

To identify and work to ease access and fully exploit new overseas markets for Irish food and drink products.

To seek the re-opening of traditional markets and access to new markets based on terms of trade equivalent to EU standards.

To pursue specific issues (tariff and non-tariff) that act as a hindrance to trade.