Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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169. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he envisages the opening up of new markets for beef, lamb and pigmeat in the event of restricted access to the UK after Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37971/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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There is a strong demand for meat globally and the role of the Department is to facilitate market access and to enable Irish exporters to take advantage of any opportunities that arise. 2015 was a very successful year for meat exports. According to Bord Bia, overall meat exports increased by €140 million to €3.5 billion.

Although exports to the UK and EU account for the majority of meat exports, I am very conscious of the importance of growing international markets as a valuable outlet for Irish beef, lamb and pigmeat production and very significant progress has been made in this context in recent years. Indeed this is a crucial component of the Food Wise 2025 Strategy, given the changing global demographics and emerging economies in Asia and elsewhere, and has been given an added impetus by the outcome of the UK referendum on Brexit. 

While the results of the UK referendum pose a challenge, my Department and our agencies, in association with our stakeholders, have been giving careful consideration to the potential impacts of a UK exit, looking at the areas in which the greatest risks are likely to arise and on which we will need to focus when exit negotiations begin. As part of our overall contingency planning, the Department has established a dedicated unit to work on these issues and has convened a consultative committee of stakeholders to ensure a full exchange of information as the negotiations proceed.

One of my priorities now, particularly in the context of Brexit is to further increase the market opportunity for Irish food and drink internationally. We are after all an exporting nation with 90% of our food produce leaving the island. In this context Minister Doyle and I lead a very successful Trade Mission to China, Vietnam, South Korea and Singapore in September. This Mission resulted in positive progress in relation to the next steps in terms of gaining beef market access to China, South Korea and Vietnam, including inter alia a commitment by Chinese officials in AQSIQ to expedite consideration of a technical inspection report from their visit to Ireland earlier this year as well as the submission of detailed beef questionnaires to the relevant authorities in South Korea and Vietnam.   

Earlier this month, I led a Trade Mission to Morocco and my officials also travelled to Algeria, with a focus on live cattle exports. Live cattle exports to Turkey also commenced in September following our recent approval to export live cattle there. It is only through further increasing our footprint internationally that we will help to mitigate the effects of Brexit and develop our agri-food sector to realise its full potential.

Planning for Trade Missions during 2017 has now commenced and market access will be a key component of any such missions. Furthermore, my Department is currently in the process of reviewing its approach to market access and the resources allocated therein in accordance with new and emerging challenges and priorities, such as Brexit. The search for new markets will continue in conjunction with the industry and various stakeholders.