Eamon Scanlon (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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Question 108: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the way efforts have progressed to restore Irish pork markets, following the pork recall in December 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11884/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is working closely with Bord Bia and the Department of Foreign Affairs to eliminate any remaining market access issues as a result of the dioxin incident. While most issues have been resolved, there is a small number of markets that continue to prohibit Irish pigmeat. My Department continues its efforts to have these restrictions lifted.

Following on from the dioxin incident, Bord Bia has put in place a number of relevant marketing and promotion initiatives. On the Irish market, a series of promotional campaigns have commenced and they focus on building awareness and loyalty to the Bord Bia Quality Mark. These will underline the quality of Irish pigmeat and will communicate its origin. A customer reassurance programme will continue in export markets. This will entail:

Continued direct Bord Bia contact with customers, placing key information about the Irish pigmeat industry in context and demonstrating the integrity of Irish health controls;

A trade communications programme designed to position the capability of the Irish pigmeat sector and the safety and quality measures in place to influence key decision makers in the retail, food service and manufacturing sectors; and

A programme to maximise international market access for Irish pigmeat products has been established. This will involve communications activities designed to build confidence among national authorities and opinion formers in markets based around Ireland's health controls.