Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 1244: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the progress made on the programme for Government proposal to implement policies to ensure Ireland's clean and green food marketing image is protected and actively promoted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47707/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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My Department supports Bord Bia in promoting the marketing of quality food on a range of markets and in communicating directly with international buyers via market/sector specific publications and events regarding the qualities, systems and production values of our agri-food production including horticulture. Bord Bia has developed a programme of Quality Assurance Schemes in beef, beef, lamb, pigmeat, poultry, eggs and horticultural produce. These Schemes promote high standards at producer and processor level and provide assurance to consumers and retailers on quality, origin and safety. They are independently verified and accredited to international standards (EN45011) and play a significant part in the promotion and marketing of food and horticultural products. My Department's public good food research programme, FIRM, is also funding research to enhance links between traceability systems and marketing of produce by developing protocols using unique animal biometrics and biomarkers to assist in identifying the particular attributes of grass-based products and further protect our marketing image.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 1245: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the progress made on the programme for Government proposal to consolidate all aspects of the development and promotion of the agri-food industry within his Department and establish a Cabinet sub-committee on the food and beverage sector, shadowed by a high level inter-Departmental group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47708/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The interdepartmental group has been established and has held two meetings to date. Membership comprises representatives of my Department and the Departments of Finance; Foreign Affairs; Communications; Health and Children; Enterprise, Trade and Employment, and Environment and Local Government. A number of issues of cross departmental nature were discussed including CAP/WTO, energy costs, waste management, retail margins, regulation and market access. The issues requiring political decisions will be referred to a Cabinet Sub-Committee. In the meantime, responsibility for fisheries has been transferred to my Department and a decision has been taken to transfer seafood marketing functions from Bord Iascaigh Mhara to Bord Bia to ensure a more cohesive marketing effort for Irish food products.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 1246: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the progress made on the programme for Government proposal to work with the food industry to ensure the maximum potential of this key indigenous sector is fully realised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47709/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Increased engagement with the food sector is ongoing through three high level groups established on foot of the Agri-Vision Report (the Food Industry Committee, the Agency CEO Group, the Agri-food Research Subgroup), as well as the Interdepartmental Group established under the Programme for Government. The objective of these groups is to ensure that all elements of the food sector are facilitated to realise their full potential. Particular emphasis has been placed on promoting increased research and development in the industry. The priority research theme areas in the 2008 FIRM call were drawn up following detailed engagement between industry and the research community, facilitated by my Department and the Food Research Group. RELAY is the mechanism used to disseminate the latest R & D findings to industry and others through project updates, workshops and company visits. RELAY currently has 4,179 stakeholders registered on its website. In 2008, RELAY held 12 workshops, made 37 company visits and issued 33 updates on ongoing research projects.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 1247: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the progress made on the programme for Government proposal to expand the regional food forum concept here to develop a forum through which researchers, producers, processors and consumers may engage and interact; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47710/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Following on from the series of six regional food fora, a National Conference on Local Food was held in Mullingar in November 2007. This was a joint initiative by my Department and Bord Bia and aimed to raise awareness of local food, provide practical information for those involved in local food production and address some of the issues highlighted at the Regional Food Fora. The audience comprised local food producers, relevant producer associations and organisations, key opinion formers and influencers, industry representative bodies and relevant state agencies. Some 250 people attended. Subsequently, in February 2008 an Agri-Vision 2015 Artisan group was established to promote the further development of local food production and address specific issues raised during the food fora. Three meetings of the Group took place during 2008.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 1248: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the progress made on the programme for Government proposal to facilitate small food businesses by making available through An Bord Bia an increased level of expert advice and support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47711/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The centre of excellence for small businesses (Bord Bia Vantage — Centre of Excellence for Small Business) was formally launched in November 2007 and continues to service the market development needs of small business through a comprehensive one-stop shop website signposting the best on-line resources available to assist small enterprises and providing advice on better practice marketing and downloadable marketing tools to assist owner/managers to manage their marketing. The Vantage Centre of Excellence for Small Business also offers a range of services delivered through workshops, guides and seminars on a nationwide basis so that companies can benefit from expert advice. A development programme is also available for small businesses ready to significantly upscale revenue. A key event in 2008 was the Bord Bia Distribution Seminar at which the Bord Bia Guide to Distribution for Small Businesses was launched.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 1249: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the progress made on the programme for Government proposal to support the development of small and medium agri-enterprises and short food chain activities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47712/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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In addition to the wide range of services provided by the Bord Bia Centre of Excellence for small businesses, the development of small and medium enterprises is also supported by the following Bord Bia and Department initiatives:

Alternative Routes to market: Bord Bia has incorporated direct routes to market into its new Centre of Excellence for Small Business and produced a comprehensive guide on accessing alternative routes such as Farmers Markets, farm shops and box schemes. Marketing Assistance Programme: Bord Bia provides marketing finance support to food, drink and horticulture companies to assist in improving their marketing techniques and capabilities. The programme is targeted at Micro and SMEs producing and marketing food, drink and horticultural products. Grants totalling over €550,000 were paid in 2008. Investment Aid: My Department awarded grant aid totalling €16.7 million to 66 enterprises in December 2008 under the capital investment scheme for marketing and processing of agricultural products. The sectors involved are horticulture, livestock marts, and small slaughterhouses and low throughput meat establishments.