Vol. 465 No. 8
38 Mr. D. Wallace asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the current position in relation to co-operation between his Department and the Department of the Marine in terms of joint involvement in the areas of product development support and the related exploration of export markets; if he will give examples of such co-operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10470/96]
There is a high level of co-operation between my Department and the Department of the Marine which is effected mainly through ongoing liaison between, and joint activities by, our respective State agencies. For example, in the area of product development, the National Food Centre, a division of Teagasc, and An Bord Iascaigh Mhara are jointly involved in providing technical support services to the fish processing sector. On the marketing side, I have agreed with my colleague, the Minister for the Marine, that the export market promotion functions of An Bord Iascaigh Mhara are to be transferred to An Bord Bia. The first step in implementing this agreement has been taken with the appointment of the nominee of the Minister for the Marine to the board of An Bord Bia in November 1995. The other arrangements necessary to effect the transfer, including the establishment of appropriate structures and linkages between BIM and An Bord Bia, will be completed later in the year. Meanwhile the two boards have a close working relationship. An Bord Iascaigh Mhara is kept fully informed of, and participates as appropriate in, An Bord Bia's activities and programmes, including in particular its trade fairs and other overseas promotions.
