Vol. 458 No. 4
35 Mr. Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the efforts, if any, being made by his Department and An Bord Bia to gain new markets for Irish meat products; and if he will give a full and detailed account of these efforts. [14387/95]
39 Mr. B. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when he will deliver on his commitment of July 1995, to introduce a package to help the food sector combat its sterling disadvantage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16997/95]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 35 and 39 together.
The provision of assistance to the food processing sector, to counteract the effects of the depreciation of sterling against the Irish pound would, without approval at EU level, be contrary to EU law. I gave no commitment to introduce such assistance.
The appropriate response to the currency situation is that firms should improve their competitiveness and intensify and geographically diversify their marketing efforts. There is a range of State schemes, under the Structural Funds programme for the food industry, on which thy may draw for these purposes.
Full details of the action An Bord Bia is taking to develop both new and existing export markets for meat, as well as other food products, are set out in their Market Development Strategy 1995-99 published last June. These include, in particular, two company grant schemes, the aim of which is to enable individual companies to improve their marketing capability and performance. In addition, An Bord Bia also provides a full range of information and promotional services. Their market development strategy constitutes the contribution of An Bord Bia towards the realisation of the estimated targets set for the food industry namely to increase output from £9 billion to £12 billion and exports from £4.3 billion to £7 billion by 1999.
