Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 35: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the potential of Ireland's beef industry; the support he is providing to them with regard to the Food Harvest 2020 targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38941/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Beef production is the predominant activity on Irish farms with more than 100,000 holdings involved in supplying the raw material to an industry that employs almost 8,000 people and exported product worth more than €1.5 billion in 2010. The prospects for 2011 are positive with the value of beef exports expected to grow by 9% to upwards of €1.7 billion for the year.

The Food Harvest 2020 report offers a vision for the long-term development of all the main food industry sectors. In relation to the beef sector specifically, an industry-led Activation Group reported earlier this year.

The report suggests that there is market demand to support growth in the suckler and dairy herds. Maximising beef output potential from the national herd is contingent on a number of factors, not least on the price of beef on EU and international markets. In light of current and future market developments, it is essential that a co-ordinated approach is taken by stakeholders to improve efficiency at farm and processing level, to breed better animals, maintain high standards of quality and food safety and maximise the market potential of Ireland's unique natural advantages.

Already we are seeing results, for example, in the areas of innovation and collaboration. Bord Bia has secured accreditation for its beef carbon footprint model. This is now part of the Beef and Lamb Quality Assurance Scheme making it the first such scheme to include environmental criteria. I see this as an important practical step towards the goal of creating an umbrella Brand Ireland identity as recommended in the 2020 strategy. On the production side, Teagasc is working with the processing industry on research projects investigating dairy beef production and on optimal young bull production and my Department is continuing to make a substantial financial contribution to the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation to support its efforts to improve breed quality.

In 2012 my Department will continue to operate the Suckler Cow Welfare scheme which has been allocated €25 million of national funds and is an important measure in the continuing development of high quality animals in the national herd. Also I have secured funding of €5 million for beef discussion groups. These discussion groups, the establishment of which was called for by the industry led Activation group, will allow farmers in the livestock and beef sectors to follow best practice in the implementation of the latest development in cattle breeding and grassland management.

International Trade

Insofar as our international trade in beef is concerned, I have been extremely active in developing relationships in new and expanding markets in order to build the kind of confidence in Irish production and control systems that provide a platform for long-term trading relationships in the future. As part of that effort, I hosted a visit from the Chinese Vice-Minister for Agriculture earlier this year, and signed a mutual co-operation agreement in the agri-food sector. In addition, my Department has engaged with a range of third countries, including Australia, the Philippines, South Korea, China, Turkey, Egypt, Algeria and others, with a view to opening new markets and expanding the presence of Irish beef in existing markets. And of course Bord Bia continues, through its marketing and promotional activities, and through its quality assurance schemes, to consolidate the position of the Irish agri-food on the domestic market and to expand its presence in EU and third country markets.