Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 241: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food his development programme for the beef sector over the next five years; the degree to which this relates to progress over the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22269/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Beef production is an extremely valuable component of the Irish economy with an export value of some €1.4 billion in 2009. Some 90% of Irish beef production is exported, with over 90% of product now being exported to the high value EU markets.

The market performance of, and price return on, beef products is a function of supply and demand. The global economic downturn has meant that the beef sector, like other sectors, is at present operating in a challenging trading environment. Exchange rate developments have also been significant, particularly in the UK, our largest single market. I am committed to working with the sector in responding to these evolving challenges and to providing a sound framework for the development of the sector. To this end, a number of policy initiatives have, over recent years, been developed or enhanced. These include, inter alia, the introduction of the Suckler Cow Scheme, Bord Bia's promotional work and its Quality Assurance Scheme, efforts to improve the quality of beef breeds through the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation, and the introduction of the Beef and Sheepmeat Capital Investment Schemes, to improve the competitiveness of the Irish processing sector. These complement the actions being undertaken by Teagasc and other State Agencies, and together are important in underpinning production, quality and marketing of Irish beef. My Department also continues to work with Bord Bia, the Department of Foreign Affairs and the industry in identifying and developing other potential markets.

In relation to future policy, the deputy is aware that earlier this year, I established the 2020 Committee, which includes senior and respected figures from a range of stakeholders in the agri food sector. The group's remit is to prepare a strategy for the agri-food and fisheries sector for the coming decade. This process is well advanced and I believe that the output from this exercise will help to set a clear path forward for the beef sector.