Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 132: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food his projections, proposals and conclusions for the development and expansion of the agri-food sector over the next five years with particular reference to the need to enhance, encourage, improve and create the proper competitive economic environment for Irish food exports on world markets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4915/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The Irish agri-food and fisheries sector is operating in a global market that is experiencing significant challenges and unprecedented change and at the same time providing significant long term opportunities. Despite the well documented challenges in the global market, I believe that this indigenous industry has the potential to boost export returns and approach €10 billion in annual export revenues by 2011, as has been targeted by Bord Bia. The strongest growth potential exists in dairy, prepared foods, beef, alcoholic beverages and seafood sectors.

The role of my Department and its agencies is to assist this industry to maximise the return from these opportunities. A number of strategic initiatives have been taken to help the agri-food sector achieve its potential including capital investment schemes for the food processing sectors, fisheries, innovation and research and development.

Addressing the industry's capacity to compete successfully at home and overseas has assumed a new urgency and my belief is that a new development plan for the period to 2020 is required to maintain the impetus gained from the Agri-Vision 2015 strategy. My Department has already started the preparatory work on this plan which is focusing on the opportunities arising from a growing international food and energy crop markets, the challenges from the global economic downturn, currency fluctuations, climate change and the critical issue of competitiveness.