Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour)
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Question 140: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will outline each of the individual initiatives both he and State agencies under his aegis are using to promote Irish local produce abroad and at home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19203/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I am fully committed to promoting quality Irish food at every opportunity both at home and abroad through actions of my Department and those of the State Bodies which come under my remit. The Deputy will be aware of the constraints that are applicable under EU rules, in that public funds may not be used to advertise primarily on the basis of origin.

In terms of developing new outlets, I am anxious to ensure that Irish producers have access to as many global markets as possible. In this regard, on-going efforts are being made by my Department, with the assistance of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, to negotiate access for Irish produce to additional third country markets, and by Bord Bia working with industry to promote Irish produce and develop new market opportunities within Ireland, the EU and third countries.

The mission of Bord Bia, the Irish Food Board, is to grow the success of a world class Irish food and horticulture industry by providing strategic market development, promotion and information services both at home and abroad for the sectors for which it has responsibility - Meat, Seafood and Horticulture. In order to deliver on its mission, Bord Bia's programmes and activities focus on the following strategic priorities:

Promoting Ireland – the Sustainable Food Island

Delivering business development initiatives to broaden export reach

Enhancing the position of Irish food, drink and horticulture on the Irish market

Driving consumer focused innovation through market knowledge

Pursuing a repositioning and differentiation strategy for Irish meat

Supporting a dynamic and growth oriented small business sector.

Bord Bia acts as a link between the Irish Food, Drink & Horticulture suppliers and existing and potential customers throughout the world. It is headquartered in Dublin, and has nine offices abroad which are focused on market intelligence, business development and promotion. They provide detailed information on the Irish food and drink industry to potential importers.

As an example of recent Home Market activities, in early June my Department and Bord Bia held the first in a series of Regional Food Showcases as part of an initiative to support a cross section of small and medium food producers in the South East Region, representing a wide range of food and drink products at various stages of development. This inaugural event took place in Kilkenny. Buyers from both the retail and food service sectors were present to view products, meet producers and hear findings of research into the South East food economy. A regional food directory of food companies in the South East counties was also launched at the event.

One of the principal routes to market for the artisan producer is the local Farmers' market. Between April and June, I awarded the Good Practice Standard Award to 37 Farmers' Markets. The Good Practice Standard is awarded jointly by my Department and Bord Bia. Farmers' Markets displaying the Good Practice Standard undertake to hold markets regularly, to stock a substantial proportion, ideally at least 50%, of local produce from the county or neighbouring counties and accommodate seasonal and local garden/allotment produce. This represents nearly a third of all the Farmers Markets currently in operation.

The visit by Queen Elizabeth II and President Barack Obama to Ireland in May this year was also used by my Department and Bord Bia to showcase the best of Irish food produce. This media coverage generated by both these events has now firmly placed Irish food producers on the global map, which has led to an explosion in export inquiries for artisan food.

Bloom 2011, held in early June, represented a further marketing opportunity for the promotion of Irish food. This year, the event featured an enhanced Food Village which saw a greater than ever display of Irish artisan food and niche products. By any standards, this was an excellent display in promoting local food at national level. I can advise the Deputy that further information on all Bord Bia activities can be found on their website: www.bordbia.ie.

Teagasc, another State Body under my Department's remit, contributes to the promotion of local food production by promoting to farmers the potential for them of adding another income stream and also the possibilities of creating extra jobs by adding value to their primary product and also by keeping more money circulating in the local community by encouraging producers to sell direct to the consumer via Farmers markets, Country markets, farm shops, box schemes and On line.

In recent years Teagasc has used the Options Programme to target diversification supports to farmers where there is a need and an interest.

This Teagasc programme takes the form of the delivery of:

Direct Selling of Farm Produced Local Products courses and modules.

Skills training courses on meat and dairy products for people starting up a micro food business

Food centres at Ashtown and Moorepark have food business courses for SME funded by the IDA, which involves start-up, design, packaging and a trouble shooting consultancy and mentoring service for small food companies that are aiming to eventually export their products.

Teagasc promotes and highlights their activities via national and local events both their own and others.