Tom Barry (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 82: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food his plans to visit China to further assist the opening up of food markets in the world's fastest growing major economy. [12444/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the Chinese Vice-Minister for Agriculture, Mr Niu Dun, and a delegation from the Ministry of Agriculture will visit Ireland this week. The visit is viewed as an important opportunity to facilitate greater understanding and confidence between our two countries in the integrity of our food safety and veterinary control systems, and so facilitate trade. The fact that the Vice-Minister has taken time from his busy schedule to visit Ireland is a significant statement in itself of the interest which China has in the advancements Ireland has made in agriculture and the expertise which we possess in the agri-food and seafood sectors.

As the Deputy is aware, Ireland already exports significant volumes of dairy products to China, in particular infant formula, and is also exporting pigmeat and seafood product to China. We have a clear trade objective of obtaining market access for beef into the Chinese market. The focus of the visit is therefore concentrated on our food safety, traceability systems and veterinary controls. It will include a visit to the Seafood Development facility in Clonakilty, a Beef plant, a Dairy plant and the Backweston laboratory facilities. I would hope that the visit will result in a deepening of our relationships with officials within the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture which I feel can only lead to an enhancement of our trading relationships. I would hope at some stage in the future to visit China.