Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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41. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the efforts being made to seek new markets in the context of Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7013/18]

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 may present significant new challenges for the agri-food sector.

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. Our efforts will be focused in these areas foreseeable future, but we will also be working hard to maintain our position and deepen market penetration in traditional markets such as those in the EU, including the UK, and the US.

In keeping with the priorities outlined in Food Wise 2025 I led a very successful Trade Mission to the Gulf Region in February 2017, visiting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. This was followed by an extensive Trade Mission to the US and Mexico in June. These markets offer significant potential for Irish exporters. The US is the largest food and beverage market in the world and has a population of 324 million people. Furthermore, some 35 million Americans claim Irish ancestry. 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.

I also led a trade mission, to Japan and South Korea in November 2017, accompanied by 40 representatives of the Irish food sector, as well as by experts from my Department, the Chief Executive of Bord Bia and senior representatives from Enterprise Ireland and Teagasc.

This was a very opportune time to bring a delegation of Ireland’s food leaders to this part of the world, given that the EU has concluded a Free Trade Agreement with South Korea as well as agreeing an Economic Partnership Agreement with Japan. These are markets of high potential for beef, pigmeat and sheepmeat exports, and so it is important that we raise the profile of Irish agri-food enterprises that already have access to these markets, and make progress in negotiating access for others.

I have also returned from Turkey recently, where live exports were the primary focus.

My Department is currently making arrangements with Bord Bia and Enterprise Ireland for a trade mission to the US and Canada at the end of the February. This will include participants from across the agri-food sector and will feature extensive trade contacts as well as relevant level political engagements.

These and the other trade missions in 2018 will raise the profile of Ireland as a producer of high quality food, provide commercial opportunities for Irish business operators and improve market access in these destinations.

This work will be informed by market prioritisation exercise commissioned by my Department, and undertaken by Bord Bia. This exercise identified opportunities in both new and more mature markets, and provides valuable market intelligence both for industry operators and policy makers.

I have already overseen an intensification of my Department's efforts to develop a globally focussed agri-food sector, and since October 2016 I have provided more than €14 million in additional funding to assist Bord Bia in its marketing and promotion efforts. In addition, my Department will participate fully in the Government's plan to double Ireland's global footprint by 2025.

Against the background of this work the value of Irish agri food exports has continued to grow and in 2017 exceeded €13 billion. I can assure the deputy that my Department and its agencies will continue to work closely with industry to identify new market opportunities for the Irish agri food sector.