Vol. 387 No. 2
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food whether the principal constraints in the nursery stock industry are (1) the poor concept of marketing within the industry (2) the inappropriate taxation classification (3) the absence of a unified VAT system and (4) the need for an improved system of issuing phyto sanitary certificates to exporters; and the plans he has to overcome these constraints to ensure a market led approach to increased nursery stock production.
52.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason the recommendations of the Nursery Stock Commodity Report (details supplied) were ignored and omitted from the An Bord Glas report A Report for the Development of Horticulture.
I propose to take questions 51 and 52 together.
Bord Glas commissioned commodity teams to examine seven sectors of the horticulture industry, including hardy nursery stock and amenity horticulture. The reports of the teams were intended solely for the guidance of the board itself. The teams made over 250 recommendations and the board had to assess and consider these with due regard to their practicability in the context of the overall plan for the development of horticulture and taking account also of current financial constraints. In the case of the nursery stock industry, the commodity team identified better marketing as a priority and the board have already taken steps, in co-operation with CTT, to establish a co-ordinated export strategy for such stock. Proposals in relation to taxation and VAT are also being actively pursued by my Department. A revised system of certification of plants for export has now been brought into operation after consultation with the nursery industry.
The targets set by the board for hardy nursery stock and amenity horticulture are the creation of 400 jobs over the next five years and an increase in output of £7 million. I am satisfied that the board's programme to achieve these targets is realistic and attainable and that it will fully exploit the undoubted potential for increased output and job creation in this sector.
