Tom Barry (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 37: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current projections for Irish agri-exports in view of the fact that his annual report showed them to have increased 11% from 2009; the effect the recent budget announcements will have on exports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38929/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The projections for 2011 in relation to Irish agri-food exports have remained good all year, although there was a decrease in some sub-sectors in the third quarter. According to the Irish Exporters Association we can expect exports for 2011 to be in the region of 12% higher in 2011 than they were in 2010. It is estimated that food and drink exports will total €8.9bn in 2011. If these figures are borne out in the final results in January it will be another excellent result for the sector.

The Food Harvest 2020 strategy outlines the plans for increased output by the sector over the coming decade. Most of Ireland's food production is exported and therefore the changes introduced in budget 2012 will also impact on our exports. The taxation measures announced in Budget 2012 reflect this Government's commitment to the agri-food industry and in particular to the expansion planned in the Food Harvest 2020 strategy. The measures announced have been designed specifically to:

· Encourage farming as a career for young people

· Incentivise farm partnerships and greater productivity at farm level

· Stimulate land sales and land transfers

· Facilitate new enterprise opportunities in farming

· Help agri-food businesses innovate and export.