asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will give an up-to-date report on progress within his Department in the development of the food processing industry.
44.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Food Processing.
7.
asked the Minister for Agriculture the plans which he has for the development of the food processing industry; and if he is satisfied that the setting up of a new food research centre by AFT in conjuction with the IIRS is adequate to meet the needs of the industry in the foreseeable future.
I purpose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 44 together.
As the Deputies are aware, I have been recently appointed as Minister of State at the Departments of Agriculture and Industry and Commerce with special responsibility for the food industry. In order to help me in my task of ensuring the proper and co-ordinated development of the food industry, I have decided to establish a permanent food committee, comprising of representatives of the Departments of Agriculture, Industry and Commerce and Tourism, Fisheries and Forestry, together with representatives from various State agencies and Bord Bainne to explore ways and means of assisting this development.
There are a range of facilities and incentives available from the State to help the food industry to expand and diversify into value-added products. Substantial grant aid is also available from the EC Commission through Council Regulation 355/77 and in this connection my Department has recently submitted to the EC Commission development programmes for the various sectors in order to provide the framework for the assessment of applications from the Irish food industry for grant aid. I should also point out that, in the recent price negotiations, the Commission agreed, following pressure from Ireland, to lift its ban on grant aid for the dairy sector under this regulation.
Broad proposals for the establishment of a food research centre, amalgamating the food research facilities of AFT and IIRS have been under discussion between these two bodies, but specific arrangements have as yet to be worked out and put to the Ministers concerned. I am satisfied that the range of State facilities for research and development, including those at UCC, are adequater for the needs of the industry. In fact the problem up to now has been the reluctance of the industry to make full use of these facilities.
(Limerick West): Is the Minister aware that it is generally accepted that the whole aspect of the food industry is very fragmented and needs co-ordination? Does the Minister feel that responsibility for the development of the food industry should be solely in his hands as Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture in order to avoid the fragmentation which is taking place at present? At the moment the Minister is just a go between for the different agencies.
I do not see my role as being a go between. My role is as co-ordinator of the various bodies involved in the food industry. The bulk of these are already under the control of the Department of Agriculture. It is not a very big job to co-ordinate the particular aspects of the food industry which are not directly under the control of the Department of Agriculture. We have set up a permanent committee. We have a tough job ahead of us with regard to food processing. We do not understimate that. We have done some good work without any brief in the matter. This new appointment will spearhead an important development in so far as the food industry is concerned.
I would like to ask the Minister of State in view of the recent announcement of the closure of Graham's of Monaghan, a very modern bacon processing plant——
That was raised yesterday by a Private Notice Question. It is a separate and specific question. The Deputy is out of order.
Can the Minister tell me the plans which he has for the bacon processing industry as part of the food sector? Does he agree that, though the grant aid is quite generous, the industry has not got sufficient capital to develop, that it is not able to avail of EC funding and State grants?
There is a later question on the Order Paper in this connection.
(Limerick West): Does the Minister agree that the industry has expressed dissatisfaction at his approach? Will he have discussions with the industry with a view to achieving better co-ordination in regard to all food processing interests? Has the Minister had dialogue with the Minister for Industry and Commerce, who is also responsible for the food industry?
I am not aware the industry as a whole is disappointed. I meet them every day of the week and we are involved in various promotions. Certain people in the industry may not be altogether happy but some people are never happy. I have daily communications with the Minister for Industry and Commerce and the Minister for Agriculture.
Would the Minister agree that, with the best efforts in the world, the food processing industry will be a waste if, as the Minister admitted a few moments ago, we have no money to promote those products in CBF or CTT? Are we not walking backwards to Christmas?
Money is not a problem.
The Minister admitted it a few moments ago. We were not represented in Barcelona and the Minister said we had no money to send anyone to promote our meat industry.
I said it was a CTT decision. Funds are not a problem in regard to the development of the industry. As late as a week ago an overseas company admitted that the package available from the IDA at the moment is as good as, if not better than, any package anywhere else in the EC.
Would the Minister agree with the Taoiseach that the food industry has already failed?
What role will the NDC play in food processing during the next five years?
They were set up primarily so that they would have an active role. With the possibility of new agri-related industries with Irish people getting together, perhaps without enough equity to fund the entire company, I would expect participation by the NDC.
The establishment of a further committee or other such body is the last thing the industry wants at the moment. What we want to see are decisions in regard to the future. Does the Minister intend to close down the Moore Park Research Centre? Is he not considering an amalgamation between the IIRS and AFT, with headquarters in Dublin.
Research is a matter between IIRS and AFT. I have an interest in Moore Park. It happens to be in my constituency.
(Interruptions.)
Does the Minister intend to close down Moore Park? We have made great progress there.