Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 230: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food his plans for the future development of agriculture and the food production sector generally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37802/08]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 231: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied that the food production sector here is sufficiently competitive at home and on overseas markets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37803/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 230 and 231 together.

The agri-food and fish, or 'bio-sector' remains Ireland's largest indigenous employer with a unique regional spread and accounts for over 32% of our net foreign earnings from primary and manufacturing industries. The sector is characterized by resilience and a capacity to adapt to meet new challenges and opportunities in changing times following the reform of the CAP. In 2007, food and drinks exports reached a record level of €8.62 billion a 5% increase on the previous year. Growth was driven primarily by the dairy and drinks sectors resulting in the export target in the Asian strategy target being reached ahead of time.

The challenges this year are even greater, particularly in relation to currency. The Agri-Vision 2015 Report and the Cawley Report have both set out strategies for developing consumer focused, competitive and sustainable sectors capable of meeting the challenges of more liberalised markets and broader societal demands. They identify the delivery of safe, high-quality, nutritious food, produced in a sustainable manner in high value markets as the optimum road for the future of the Irish food industry in the light of the changes which have already taken place or are anticipated over the next decade.

The Action Plan to implement the Agri-Vision 2015 Report sets out over 160 actions in a coherent implementation strategy. Over three-quarters of the actions are completed or being implemented on an ongoing basis and these range from on farm measures including huge investment in REPS and particular support for suckler cow producers to support for investment and research and marketing.

At EU level we are engaged in negotiation on the Health Check of the Common Agricultural Policy. Earlier this week, I met with the EU Farm Commissioner and the EU President to reiterate my priorities in this regard, in particular appropriate market management arrangements to ensure a "soft landing" in preparation for the expiry of milk quotas in 2015; further simplification of the single payment scheme and cross compliance; national discretion in the operation of the single payment scheme, and supports funded from the single payment ceiling.

We will continue to pursue policies with stakeholders to develop agriculture and the food production sector in ways, which build sustainably on the progress achieved so far.