Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 23 Oct 2001

Vol. 542 No. 5

Written Answers. - Food Retail Sector.

John Perry

Question:

108 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if changes in the food retail sector will result in the increase of Ireland's share of world trade in light of the extensive range of dairy and added value products, including beef, pork and bacon; and if the lowering of trade barriers in agriculture will bring improvements in market opportunities for its exporters. [24800/01]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Mr. Walsh)

The objective in international trade negotiations for the further liberalisation of trade in agricultural products is to reduce or eliminate barriers to trade and so provide opportunities for increased international trade. As an established exporter of agricultural products, I am confident that the Irish industry is well placed to exploit such opportunities.

Arising from changes in the trading environment which may result from the WTO negotiations and from enlargement of the EU as well as factors such as changing consumer tastes, new food distribution channels, greater concentration at national level and general technological developments, I established a group in June 1999 to make recommendations on the development of the Irish agriculture and food industries over the present decade. That group's report entitled, Agri Food 2010, was completed in March 2000 and I approved and published a plan of action in August 2000 for the implementation of its recommendations. Funding for many of these recommendations has been provided for in the National Development Plan, 2000-2006. As a result, I expect that the agriculture and food industries will be well prepared to avail of the market opportunities on the domestic and international markets and so maximise their contribution to Irish wealth and employment and the development of rural areas over the next ten years.