John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 523: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the specific proposals in the programme for Government for which he is responsible; the target dates which he has agreed in regard to the delivery of these proposals; and if he will publish an implementation schedule. [9578/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The programme for Government prioritises the agri-food and marine sectors as a key element of driving economic growth.

As the deputy is aware this Government has set out a range of actions covering the next five years aimed at growing the agri-food sector, agriculture, coastal communities, fisheries and the marine environment. There are 27 specific commitments in relation to the agri-food, forestry and marine sectors as part of our overall programme to promote economic recovery.

The Food Harvest 2020 strategy which was developed by the agri-food sector and for which I have taken personal charge of implementation through the High Level Implementation Group sets out very ambitious aims including an export target of €12bn by 2020 for the sector and a 50% increase in milk production. I recently chaired my first meeting of the High Level Implementation Group and am committed to driving forward the implementation of this strategy to fully achieve the potential of the agri-food and fishing sector.

I am also prioritising the ongoing EU negotiations on the Common Agricultural Policy and the Common Fisheries Policy which are likely to continue into 2012 and possibly later, a renewed forestry programme, the merging of marine responsibilities in my Department on which work is currently ongoing, the protection of Irish agri-food interests in EU trade negotiations on which I have been very active since taking office, and a variety of other issues. I am ensuring that work is progressing on all of these matters as rapidly as possible, although in some cases within timelines that are largely determined externally. I intend to indicate progress on this work at regular intervals.

Many of the proposals in the programme for government are of course cross-cutting issues, some with very significant relevance to the agri-food, forestry and marine sectors. I have ensured that all such commitments within the Programme for Government have been identified within my Department and responsibilities assigned. These actions are being actively followed up in cooperation with other Departments as appropriate.