Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 March 2017
301. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he has received a positive response from various markets throughout the European Union and elsewhere in respect of the likely impact of Brexit on the economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12721/17]
View answerMy Department and Bord Bia are actively engaged in promoting Ireland's reputation as a producer of high quality, safe and sustainably produced food with a commitment to building business relationships in markets within the European Union and further afield.
The Bord Bia Thinking House, launched last year, is providing food producers and companies with fresh insights into buyer and consumer interests and trends and the opening of Bord Bia offices in Warsaw and in Singapore expands our food promotion footprint within the EU and in Asia.
Trade missions are a key component of our strategy of building long term trading relationships. Last week I led a Trade Mission to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The mission served to enhance and improve our existing levels of market access in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. I used the opportunity Bord Bia to promote Ireland’s reputation as a top class producer of high quality, safe and sustainably produced meat and dairy products and as a more recent exporter of prepared consumer foods to markets in the Gulf region.
This followed trade missions led by Minister Doyle and myself in September 2016 to Vietnam, South Korea, Singapore and China and a trade mission to Morocco which I led in November. Agencies, that is Bord Bia and Enterprise Ireland, and companies continue to be key partners in our efforts to develop food, drink and agritech exports. During 2016 senior officials also led missions to Iran, Turkey and Algeria.
I am considering other destinations for the remainder of 2017, markets in Asia, Africa and America are likely to feature prominently in these considerations, and I am of course ready to respond as appropriate to other opportunities that may arise.
