Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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517. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of dedicated staff in his Department with respect to accessing new markets in other countries for Irish meat and dairy exports. [15468/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Irish food and drink exports increased by 2% in 2016 to reach €11.15 billion and Ireland exports food and drink to around 180 countries all over the world. One of the Department's priorities now, particularly in the context of Brexit, is to further increase the market opportunity for Irish food and drink internationally, especially for the meat and dairy sectors. Indeed this principle of market development is already a key component of Food Wise 2025. We have achieved significant successes in recent years in conjunction with the various stakeholders to increase the number of markets to which we enjoy access.

In terms of beef market access, 2016 saw the extension of our beef market access to the USA to include Beef Intended for Grinding (BIFG) as well as the opening of the Canadian, New Zealand and Israeli beef markets. Significant steps were also taken in terms of beef market access to China, South Korea and Vietnam in conjunction with the Trade Mission there. 2017 has already seen the re-opening of the Egyptian market to Irish beef and we expect that beef exports may commence soon. It has also seen the extension of our beef market access to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to include a range of minced and processed beef products, as part of my Trade Mission there. 

My Department is also working on expanding market access for sheepmeat, pigmeat, poultry and cooked meats across a range of markets. For example, for sheepmeat, the market in Iran opened in 2016. It is also working to simplify certification procedures in a number of markets to which we already have access. 

In relation to dairy, Irish dairy products have a highly rated and hard earned reputation in terms of quality, safety and sustainability, and this gives them a competitive edge in markets over the world. My Department, in conjunction with other stakeholders, including the Irish dairy companies and agencies such as Bord Bia, are playing a key role in building the market for Irish dairy. In 2016 Ireland exported dairy products to over 130 countries. Against the backdrop of our efforts to significantly increase dairy output and grow the sector, export market diversification is of the upmost importance, and this is particularly true in the context of a post-Brexit scenario.

The meat market access work involves staff across the Department, including veterinary services, laboratory staff, inspectorate staff, International Trade Division and a wide range of other divisions, in completing market access questionnaires, facilitating incoming inspection visits, diplomatic meetings, agreeing export health certificates etc. All of this interconnected work facilitates the accessing of new markets. The unit also works very closely with external stakeholders such as Bord Bia, the industry, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and its Embassies abroad.

However, despite the significant successes achieved to date, I am reviewing the Department's approach to market access at present and I expect to be in a position to make an announcement on this in the near future.