Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 257: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food his plans for the future development of the beef, sheep, pig, lamb, cereal and dairy sectors with a view to making the necessary provision for the future of the industry, bearing in mind the competition from third countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36602/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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It is my job as Minister to plan to help the Agri Food Sector to meet all challenges to all sectors in the coming decade. In order to do this the sector must improve competitiveness so that it can capitalise on the inevitable global recovery and meet the challenges in the coming decade. Addressing the Agri Food 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 very successful Agri-Vision 2015 strategy. Work is being advanced on this plan which is focusing on the critical issue of competitiveness, the challenges from the global economic downturn, currency fluctuations, climate change and how best to maximise the opportunities arising from a growing international food and energy crop markets. This plan will cover all of the sectors referred to by the Deputy.