Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 25: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the process of public consultation that will be undertaken by the 2020 committee; when he expects the committee to complete its work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11865/10]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 58: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the timescale that he has given the recently established 2020 committee to complete its work to draw up a long term strategy for the agri-food, forestry and fisheries sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11864/10]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 62: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food his plans for a comprehensive and strategic agricultural development plan to include the beef, dairy, cereal, pigmeat, lamb, food processing and the bio-fuel sectors with particular reference to maximising Ireland's impact within the EU and world markets; the extent to which various factors are likely to affect this industry, negatively and positively, currently and in the future; the steps taken or proposed to address the emerging issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11917/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 25, 58 and 62 together.

Work on the development of a strategy to further the growth of the agri-food, fisheries and forestry sectors to 2020 is well advanced. The initial analysis has already been completed by my Department in collaboration with five State Bodies, Teagasc, Enterprise Ireland, Bord Bia, BIM, Marine Institute. On 16 February last, I announced the composition of the 2020 Committee and asked them to produce by June a short, sharp document which sets out the key strategies required for the future development of the sector. I believe that the very high calibre of the committee members will ensure that the output from this exercise will be both bold and practical and will set a clear path forward for the sector.

On 16 February, I also launched a web based public consultation process seeking submissions from interested bodies on strategies and policies to guide the work of the 2020 Committee. To facilitate and target consideration of the key issues involved, the comprehensive sectoral analysis, mentioned above, has been published on the Department's website http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/2020Strategy, in the form of 5 Discussion Papers and 18 Background Papers. Submissions are welcome until the end of this month and will be publicly available on the web.