Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 82: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if his attention has been drawn to a report published by the Joint Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Innovation on creating jobs in the agri-food sector; if he has seen the recommendations of the report; the action he will take to implement the recommendations of the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36182/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The Report of the Joint Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Innovation referred to by the Deputy analyses the business operating environment of the agri-food sector and makes recommendations within the overall theme of increasing employment in the sector.

The Report identifies the importance of the sector to the Irish economy, which is also the focus of the Food Harvest 2020 strategy for the development of agri-food, forestry and seafood sectors which I launched in July 2010. Food Harvest 2020 identifies growth prospects for the sectors, particularly on export markets if 'smart, green, growth' strategies are pursued. I have already established a High Level Implementation Committee for the Food Harvest 2020 strategy, which I am chairing and which brings together all the key actors in the state development services and is action focused. I will consider the recommendations of the Joint Committee and bear them in mind in implementing actions to deliver on the ambitious targets set out in the Food Harvest 2020 report.