Written answers

Tuesday, 18 December 2012

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Food Marketing Programme

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans for the future expansion of the food industry with particular reference to the establishment of new markets for Irish produce; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56263/12]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I have been 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. In April this year I headed a trade mission to China to further develop this important relationship, and to meet my ministerial counterparts in the Agriculture and Quarantine Ministries, to help raise the profile of the Irish agri-food industry in China. A number of Chinese delegations at ministerial level have visited Ireland since then. I also visited the U.S. in June and had the opportunity to raise the important issue of beef and sheepmeat access, and discuss a range of other agri food issues, with my counterpart there during that visit.

Furthermore, I am working with industry to raise the profile of the Irish dairy sector, and the Irish agri-food sector generally, in emerging markets particularly in the Far East and North Africa. Ireland has worldwide access to markets for dairy products to markets and already exports such products to over eighty countries. .

While the great majority of our meat exports are destined for other EU member states, it is always beneficial to have a wide range of outlets available for our high quality food products. To this end my Department engages with Bord Bia and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, in consultation with the industry, to secure access to more third country outlets.

In relation to meat, we reached agreements over recent years with the authorities in Tunisia, Morocco, South Africa, Turkey, Egypt and Singapore which allow for the export of Irish beef and this year, we reached agreements with Singapore and South Africa for the export of sheepmeat and with Morocco and UAE, to allow for the export of poultry meat. My Department has also hosted visits in the past few years by official delegations from Morocco (beef access), Israel (beef and sheepmeat access), Philippines (beef access), Australia (pork access), China (pork and beef access), Egypt (beef access), South Korea (pork access), Japan (beef access), Hong Kong (all meats) and Iran (beef and sheepmeat access) as part of our efforts to gain access for Irish meats to these rapidly growing markets.

Longer term targets for Irish meat access include China for beef and lamb, and Japan for beef. Other targeted markets for access include Irish beef and lamb to the North African and Middle East regions and my Department is engaging actively with the authorities in these countries. There is a strong demand for meat globally and my Department remains focused, in consultation with the industry, on ensuring that Irish exporters are in a position to take full advantage of the opportunities that arise. I regard this as essential work to ensure that the agri food sector in Ireland is able to develop to its full potential.

Earlier this year An Taoiseach launched the Bord Bia Origin Green programme under which food and drink companies sign up to a Sustainability Charter and make individual commitments which will be independently audited. This initiative which was internationally launched at the SIAL food trade fair will assist Ireland to become known as a world leader in sustainably produced food and drink. All of the above activity and more is encompassed in the Food Harvest 2020 growth strategy for the sector.

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