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Departmental Committees.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 April 2010

Thursday, 29 April 2010

Questions (41, 42)

Máire Hoctor

Question:

38 Deputy Máire Hoctor asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the timescale for the 2020 strategy committee to complete its work to draw up a long-term strategy for the agri-food, forestry and fisheries sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16787/10]

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Máire Hoctor

Question:

72 Deputy Máire Hoctor asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the progress that has been made towards the development of a new strategy for the agri-food sector until 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16786/10]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 38 and 72 together.

Work on the development of a strategy to further the growth of the agri-food, fisheries and forestry sectors to 2020 is well advanced. During 2009, my Department in collaboration with five State Bodies, Teagasc, Enterprise Ireland, Bord Bia, BIM, Marine Institute, completed a comprehensive analysis of the sector. In February 2010, I established the 2020 Committee and asked them to produce a short, sharp document setting out the key strategies required for the future development of the sector. At the same time, I published on the Department‘s website http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/2020Strategy, the completed analysis in the form of 5 Discussion Papers and 18 Background Papers. A web based public consultation process was also launched, seeking submissions from interested bodies on strategies and policies to guide the work of the 2020 Committee. 80 submissions have been received, have been posted on the Department's website and are being considered by the Committee.

The Committee, which has been widely drawn from the various sectors, has actively engaged in this intensive process and I believe that the output from this exercise will be both bold and practical and will set a clear path forward for the sector. The 2020 Committee is expected to finish its deliberations in June 2010.

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