Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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170. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he expects to be in a position to further develop markets for food exports throughout the European Union in an effort to compensate for restricted access arising from Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37972/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The UK market is undoubtedly Ireland's largest trading partner, particularly for our agri-food sector, with up to 43% of our agri-food products being exported to the UK last year. It is important to remember that our trading relationship with the UK is not altered in any way until the negotiations that will dictate the terms and conditions of the UK’s departure are completed.

While the UK market is of great importance to our agri-food sector, it is important that we continue to diversify and seek growth opportunities into other markets in order to minimise our dependence on any one market. My Department's Food Wise 2025 strategy places significant emphasis on market development and we have been very active in our efforts to expand into new and emerging markets in recent years.

In particular, responding to consumer demands in emerging markets such as Asia and North Africa are seen as important export destinations for the Irish agri-food sector. In this regard, I led a very successful trade mission to China and Singapore in September, while my colleague, Minister of State Andrew Doyle led a Trade Mission to Vietnam and South Korea, also in September. More recently, I led a trade mission to Morocco and Algeria in early November.

Of course in tandem with these efforts we are also seeking to expand to markets throughout the European Union. Both Bord Bia and Enterprise Ireland play a crucial role in developing as many markets as possible for our agri-food products. I and my Department will continue to be supportive of their efforts in this regard.