Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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42. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the work his Department is carrying out to develop new markets for Irish food and drink in view of Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33538/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Gaining third country market access, and opening up trading opportunities around the world for Irish exports, have long been integral to my Department’s strategic approach to the development of the agri-food sector. This is particularly important as we deal with the challenges presented by Brexit.  

Trade missions will continue to play a key role here.  Our traditional "in person" method of developing trade with  customers is not feasible currently.  To that end, my Department, in conjunction with Bord Bia, is holding a  series of Virtual Trade Missions  on 9 and 10 November with customers in Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand and the Philippines. These interactive engagements will include Irish industry  and existing and potential customers overseas. There will also be a series of virtual meetings with key international customers from Germany, the UK, Japan, China, UAE and SE Asia.  

The Government's  commitment to new market development is illustrated by its appointment of  Martin Heydon T.D., as Minister of State with specific responsibility for this task. My Department has also placed four additional Agriculture Attaches in the Irish Embassy network in recent years, in Berlin, Tokyo and Mexico City in 2019, and in Seoul, South Korea, in 2020. In addition, my Department's International Trade activities are being reorganised and further developed, and this will further enhance our ability to deal with the challenges presented by Brexit.