Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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179. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of the work undertaken to secure new markets for Irish agri-businesses in particular new markets overseas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6881/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Continuing to develop market opportunities at home and abroad for Irish agri-food businesses is a key goal of Food Vision 2030, which identified specific actions to support the diversification and development of export markets.

To support the achievement of those objectives, Bord Bia received a significant allocation of €53m in Budget 2022. This funding will enable Bord Bia to continue to invest in innovative digital approaches to developing new markets, defending and growing our food and drink exports in existing markets in the UK and Europe, and building our reputation in third countries in line with our market access programme.

An important component of the Government's strategy to develop and diversify markets is high-level ministerial trade missions. Despite the challenges presented by Covid-19, Minister of State Heydon and I have led a number of virtual trade missions and key customer meetings over the last year. These engagements included EU and third country markets in South-East Asia and West Africa.

Throughout 2022 as health travel restrictions begin to lift, the Government is planning to undertake an intensified programme of trade missions, the first of which is a agri-food trade mission to Dubai and Saudi Arabia later this month.

Also essential to the development of new markets outside the EU is the technical work that frequently takes place behind the scenes. Technical negotiations with importing countries, including inward visits and inspection by their competent authorities, are typically a lengthy and multifaceted process, often taking several years before bilateral agreements are concluded and trade can commence.

During the pandemic, some notable successes were achieved, including opening Mexico for Irish pigmeat in May 2020 and Japan for Irish beef burgers in March 2021. In April and June 2021, my Department secured changes to our poultrymeat certification conditions with Singapore and the United Arab Emirates respectively to maintain access and minimise trade disruption resulting from an outbreak of avian influenza.

There has also been significant progress in opening markets for Irish lamb producers. In September 2021, I signed a sheepmeat protocol with China and the US announcement in December 2021 that its ban on EU sheepmeat exports has been lifted removed a major impediment to accessing the American market.

My officials are working closely with their counterparts and our embassies in Beijing and Washington so that, once the necessary technical measures are agreed and put in place, Ireland can soon export lamb to the world’s largest economies.

Ultimately while it is the role of my Department is to open up international markets, it is up to the industry - with the support of the Department and Bord Bia’s marketing expertise - to capitalise on those opportunities.