Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 30: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the initiatives he is undertaking to open new markets for Irish food abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38956/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I am of the belief that it is always beneficial to have a wide range of outlets available for our high quality agricultural produce. To this end my Department engages with Bord Bia and the Department of Foreign Affairs, in consultation with the industry, to secure access to more third country outlets.

In relation to meat, we reached agreements in 2011 with the authorities in Turkey, Egypt and Singapore which allow for the export of beef. My Department also hosted visits by official delegations from the Philippines (beef access), Australia (pork access), China (pork and beef access) and Korea (pork access) as part of our efforts to gain access for Irish meats to these rapidly growing markets. There are ongoing discussions at EU level with the Russian Federation which, it is hoped, will allow for the export of sheepmeat from EU counties (including Ireland), in the future, and we have been pressing at EU level for an adjustment in the US TSE rule which would permit Irish and EU beef and sheepmeat to be exported to the US. Longer term targets for Irish meat access include China for beef and lamb, and Japan for beef. Other targeted markets include access for Irish beef and lamb to the North African and Middle East regions. My Department is engaging actively with the authorities in these countries in order to secure access for these products. There is a strong demand for meat globally. My Department remains focused, in consultation with the industry, on ensuring that Irish exporters are able to take full advantage of the opportunities that arise. At present 20% of all Irish pork is exported outside of the EU and most Irish exports of beef and lamb go direct to other EU countries.

On the dairy side, Ireland already has access to dairy markets worldwide. Nonetheless I am working with industry to raise the profile of the Irish dairy sector, and the Irish agri food sector generally in emerging markets. In this regard I visited Algeria in September to meet my counterpart, Minister Rachid Benaissa and to open a new Irish Dairy Board Office and Packing Centre in what is already a significant, but expanding market for Irish dairy products, and I am confident that my continuing work in this area will ultimately pay dividends for the dairy and other sectors.

Once my Department has obtained access to markets for any agri food products, the extent to which those markets are exploited by Irish agri food businesses is determined by the usual commercial considerations, including demand, supply and price. My Department and I remain committed to working with industry, through Bord Bia and with the assistance of the international network of Irish Embassies, to raise the profile of Ireland and the Irish agri food sector, and to build the kind of confidence in our production and control systems that forms the foundation of successful international trade, so that Irish agri food businesses can continue to develop a strong international profile and increase exports in traditional and emerging markets.

In terms of the scoping and development of new markets, Bord Bia implements a comprehensive market development programme to acquire new customers for Irish food and drink companies in priority markets. Through a network of 10 overseas offices, Bord Bia undertakes in excess of a thousand buyer presentations/meetings per year. In addition the Bord Bia Marketing Fellowship with 26 experienced graduates undertaking 106 commercial assignments in 12 overseas markets from the US to South Korea delivers increased business and market insight for about 80 exporting companies. In February of next year, Bord Bia's Marketplace International 2012 will provide a business development platform for 177 Irish food and drink companies to meet with over 300 international buyers and about 100 Irish buyers.