Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Question 57: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food his priorities for the next three months. [7699/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My priority for the next three months is to provide a renewed impetus to the development of the agri-food and marine sectors of our economy.

In our programme for Government, we have indicated our overall support for the Food Harvest 2020 strategy. Over the coming months I intend to ensure that all of the relevant stakeholders are fully engaged in the process of implementing the report's recommendations. As far as the dairy sector is concerned, Dr. Sean Brady, who chaired the Dairy Expansion Activation Group, continues to be involved in the implementation phase and, with assistance from my Department, will report at the end of June on progress to date with the implementation of the 55 actions identified in the Dairy Road Map. In addition, The Beef 2020 Action Group is at present engaged in a round of consultations with stakeholders to progress the implementation of the recommendations in Food Harvest 2020. I will be actively involved in facilitating the implementation of the recommendations in other sectors. In this context my intention is to produce a progress report in mid year on Food Harvest 2020.

In Europe, I will continue my engagement with the Commission, the European Parliament and Agriculture Ministers from other member states to ensure a successful outcome for Ireland in the upcoming negotiations on reform of the CAP. However, a more immediate priority is the MERCOSUR negotiations, where I will be working to ensure that there is a thorough debate in the EU Agriculture Council of the impact assessment due shortly from the Commission and that no offers are exchanged unless they have been vetted in full by the Council and the European Parliament.

At EU level, the Commission's dairy package is at present being discussed at Council and I will continue to work to ensure the best possible outcome for the Irish dairy sector. In the context of the abolition of milk quotas, I will of course continue to seek to ensure a soft landing for all member states, by whatever mechanism is deemed appropriate. There is strong resistance, however, to the idea of a further adjustment to the milk quota regime in the run-up to 2015. In the meantime, therefore, I will be reminding dairy farmers that they must continue to operate within the constraints of the quota regime here at home in order to avoid potentially very damaging superlevy fines.

I am of course extremely conscious that the margins of farmers in the pig sector are under significant pressure at present, primarily as a result of increasing feed prices. I have already met with farmer representatives in relation to this issue and I will continue to work at EU level to ensure that appropriate mitigating measures are taken.

On the fisheries side, I will work on establishing relationships with the Commissioner and other Ministers with regard to Ireland's Common Fisheries Policy reform agenda. I will be supporting BIM in the delivery of the value-added and development agendas. Continued management of Ireland's fish quotas will also be important.

I will also work towards the elimination of the aquaculture licence backlog and continue working towards the establishment of an effective licence monitoring and compliance system. I intend to continue the development of foreshore licensing co-ordination with the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government. The ongoing review of all aquaculture legislation is very important to my Department, as is the continuing work towards the introduction of new aquaculture licence templates.

In relation to the six fishery harbour centres owned by the Department, I will work towards their continued maintenance and development, subject to the availability of resources. I also intend to publish a revised Rates and Charges Order in respect of these Centres.

Another priority will be to carry out the comprehensive expenditure review which was announced by Government earlier in the week. In this context, I will be examining efficiencies that can be achieved in the expenditure by my Department to ensure that it can comply with the demands for the National Recovery Plan. In addition I will focus on ensuring that the Croke Park Action Plan is implemented in my Department and that it will continue to meet its obligations in relation to the employment control framework.

Question No. 58 answered with Question No. 44.

Question No. 59 answered with Question No. 55.