Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 59: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the progress that has been made between the banks and those representing pig farmers in particular; his views on whether many of these farmers are continuing under severe pressure for working capital and every day living; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21869/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I recently met with representatives of the Irish Banking Federation and impressed upon them the credit requirements of the agri-food sector, including the pig sector. While it is reported that there has been some easing of the restrictions on the flow of credit, there are still individual cases of difficulty. Therefore I will continue my dialogue with the banks on the issue. Following the establishment, under the NAMA legislation, of the Credit Review Office, SMEs, sole traders and farmers may now get a review of a refusal or withdrawal of business credit.

As with those in many sectors, pig producers have been operating in a more difficult trading environment as a result of the global economic downturn and an unhelpful Sterling/Euro exchange rate. Nonetheless, pork is the most consumed meat product globally and I believe that there is significant potential for growth in the sector.

My Department is at present working with the Agri 2020 Committee to develop a medium term strategy for the Agri Food Sector, including the pig sector and I expect this exercise to be concluded shortly. In the meantime my department and its agencies will continue to work with the industry to ensure the optimal framework for its development, inter alia by ensuring the Irish pigmeat sector has access to the maximum number of third country markets, through the provision in the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013, of capital funding for investment in sow housing, by investing in consumer promotions at retail level and education programmes at food service level to promote Quality Assurance and by funding marketing initiatives at home and overseas.

Following constructive engagement with the Chinese authorities and a meeting last week in Beijing between myself and the Chinese Minister for Agriculture, Mr Han Changfu, and the Minister for Quality, Supervision and Inspection, Mr Wang Yong the Chinese market has been fully reopened to Irish pigmeat. I believe there will be the immediate potential for €20 million in trade, and this can be built on significantly in the years ahead.