Vol. 462 No. 4
46 Mr. E. Byrne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry his views on the preparedness of the Irish food industry to compete on a liberalised world market in the wake of GATT and in anticipation of likely changes in the structures of the common agricultural policy in coming years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4628/96]
As I stated many times since becoming Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the key factors which will influence the ability of the food industry to meet the challenges facing it now, and in the years ahead, are competitiveness, innovation and marketing. The National Development Strategy for the Food Industry which I launched last year, under which £284 million in State and EU aid is to be invested in the industry, and the plans drawn up by the State agencies to implement that strategy are all specifically geared towards building the industry's capability in these three key areas. I am confident that, used to the full, the measures I have put in place will help the industry to adapt to, and develop under, even the most difficult international environment.
