Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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1658. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he expects to establish new markets for food or food products globally in the event of there being a diminution in access to the UK markets in the context of Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28424/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The pursuit and development of new markets for Irish agri-food exports is of course an ongoing and central component of the strategic development of the agri-food sector, as evidenced by its placement right at the centre of Food Wise 2025, the industry’s strategy for development over the coming decade. Indeed, this is all the more relevant after the UK’s decision to leave the EU, which presents significant new challenges for the agri-food sector in particular.

For some products the dependence on the UK market is significant, and it will be extremely difficult to identify market opportunities of sufficient scale to entirely displace the UK. For this reason I have met with senior officials with retail multiples in the UK to assure them of the quality of Irish food and the continued commitment of Irish businesses to the UK market.

Nonetheless Food Wise 2025 outlines the huge potential for growth in agri-food exports to new and emerging markets, particularly in Asia, Africa and the Gulf region. There is also potential for further market development in more mature markets, and my Department and its agencies will be focussed on maximising the potential for market development in the coming years.

In keeping with the priorities outlined in Food Wise 2025, I and Minister Doyle led trade missions to China, Singapore, Vietnam and South Korea in September 2016. In November I also led a trade mission to Morocco, which was extended at senior official level to include Algeria. Earlier in 2016, senior officials accompanied a Bord Bia trade mission to Iran, and travelled on to Turkey and met with officials to discuss trade of live animals.

In February 2017 I also led a very successful Trade Mission to the Gulf Region. This covered the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

I am at present engaged in a trade mission to the United States and Mexico, which commenced on Monday, 19 June. This mission includes participants from across the agri-food sector and will feature extensive trade contacts as well as high level political discussions. Both of these markets have been identified by my Department as offering huge potential to the Irish agri-food sector. The US is the largest food and beverage market in the world and has a population of 324 million people. Around 35 million Americans claim Irish ancestry and many aspects of the American market are attractive to Irish exporters. Mexico has a population of 127 million, making it the eleventh-largest country in the world in population terms and the fifteenth-largest economy in the world, with projections that it will move into the top five by 2050.

It will also promote Ireland’s reputation as a producer of high quality, safe and sustainably produced meat and dairy products. My Department will continue to seek out and identify new markets and I am ready to respond as appropriate to other opportunities that may arise.

I also recently announced additional market access resources in my Department in order to further support its efforts to increase the Irish footprint globally.