Enda Kenny
Question:11 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will outline the number of people working in the research and development area of the food industry in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Food Industry Employees.
In the public sector there are 70 people engaged in research and development work for the food, including drink, industry. Comparative figures for the private sector are not available but it is estimated that there are 400 full time equivalents currently involved in such work in the food, including drink, and tobacco industries.
Is the Minister satisfied that the 70 people left in research and development is a sufficient number given the fact that we have had one of the best results in the mushroom industry over a number of years and that people have come from abroad to look at our research? As a result of cutbacks will we be in the position where we will have to look abroad to find the best available research and development?
In Dunsany and in the National Dairy Product Research Centre in Moorepark there is a viable research unit carrying out research for the food industry. My contacts with the industry would lead me to believe that the industry is happy with the level of research.
The people in charge do not believe that.
Will the Minister consider cross Border co-operation in research and development?
The Deputy will be aware that Deputy Kirk recently had a meeting with Secretary Bottomley. A working group has been established to improve contact between research units in the North and here.
Is the Minister aware that the estimated 400 people working in research and development in the private sector are allocated token budgets by co-operatives and dairies? Does he believe that the position is satisfactory in regard to the numbers employed in that area? Will he take an initiative to co-ordinate a campaign in regard to research and development between the various bodies which currently operate in a haphazard and unco-ordinated fashion?
We are in constant contact with the industry to ensure that we get the best results from the effort put in and that there is as little duplication or overlap as possible. I take the Deputy's point in relation to co-operatives and food manufacturing plants which have laboratories for mainly in-house microbiological and chemical testing and analysis.In general, there is a progressive attitude to the amount of research and development taking place in the food industry.
Is the Minister worried about the dramatic increase in research and development in Holland, Denmark and other countries which are our main competitors in the marketplace?Does the Minister not think it is peculiar that when they are investing a huge amount of money in this area, we have reduced our budget by half?
According to the figures supplied to me, we have substantially increased the number of people involved in research and development.
After a 50 per cent cut?
The number has increased steadily since 1979 when the equivalent manpower level was only 219. When you include technical and support staff generally in the private sector the figure is 900 and I still have not referred to the teaching staff in UCC and the other universities in the food and dairy faculties. The support they get from the Government in the area of research and development is quite satisfactory.
The Minister did not give us the figures for the public sector. Taking into consideration that there has been a large reduction in the numbers there should be co-ordination of all the people involved in this area so that we can compete with Holland and Denmark. We were ahead of them in two areas——
I was hoping for a question, Deputy.
Will the Minister consider this matter?
I call Deputy Stagg.
Given that we are an agriculture based economy, will the Minister accept that the number of people working in the public sector in research and development is inadequate? It is ludicrous to pretend that we are doing anything in this regard and it is obvious that we have handed over this area to an unco-ordinated private sector.
I invite the Deputies who are concerned about this matter to visit Dunsany——
We did visit it and we went to Belclare as well.
The Deputies must know that rationalisation and co-operation have taken place in research and development.
Does the Minister have any figures in regard to the number of research graduates who are leaving the country every year to work for competitors?Is he aware that quite a number of research graduates are doing their PhDs abroad and giving their expertise to our competitors? It is a very serious problem in the light of the new, competitive environment in Europe. Will the Minister——
These are specific questions which are worthy of separate answers.