Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 December 2011
37 Deputy Tom Barry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current projections for Irish agri-exports in view of the fact that his annual report showed them to have increased 11% from 2009; the effect the recent budget announcements will have on exports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38929/11]
View answerThe projections for 2011 in relation to Irish agrifood exports have remained good all year, although there was a decrease in some sub-sectors in the third quarter. According to the Irish Exporters Association we can expect exports for 2011 to be in the region of 12% higher in 2011 than they were in 2010. It is estimated that food and drink exports will total €8.9bn in 2011. If these figures are borne out in the final results in January it will be another excellent result for the sector.
The Food Harvest 2020 strategy outlines the plans for increased output by the sector over the coming decade. Most of Ireland's food production is exported and therefore the changes introduced in budget 2012 will also impact on our exports. The taxation measures announced in Budget 2012 reflect this Government's commitment to the agrifood industry and in particular to the expansion planned in the Food Harvest 2020 strategy. The measures announced have been designed specifically to:
Encourage farming as a career for young people
Incentivise farm partnerships and greater productivity at farm level
Stimulate land sales and land transfers
Facilitate new enterprise opportunities in farming
Help agrifood businesses innovate and export.
