Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 July 2018
550. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his vision for the future development of the agrifood sector, notwithstanding Brexit or other challenges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31842/18]
View answerAs Ireland’s largest indigenous industry, the agri-food sector continues to play a vital role in Ireland’s economy with a turnover of €26 billion, contributing 7.8% of GNI* and generating 11% of all merchandising exports in 2017. The agri-food sector also makes a significant contribution to employment particularly in rural and coastal areas accounting for 7.9 % of total employment in 2017 and ensuring the continued viability of these areas. At farm level, CSO data shows that Operating Surplus increased by over 35% to €3.5 billion in 2017, and Teagasc data shows that average Family Farm Income reached a record high of €31,374, a 32% increase on 2016.
The uncertainty around Brexit is a challenge for the sector, but concerns about the impact on the agri-food sector are at the top of the Government’s Brexit agenda. My on-going engagement with UK and EU counterparts will be informed by the need to have the implications for the agri-food sector understood and taken account of as the negotiations unfold.
My Department and State agencies are working together to ensure that that appropriate supports are in place to help the sector to respond and adapt to the uncertainty arising from Brexit. For example, significant additional funding has been provided to Bord Bia's marketing and promotion efforts; low cost flexible finance schemes at farm and food industry level have been implemented; and further investment in innovation and competitiveness for the food industry, particularly the prepared consumer foods sector, has been prioritised.
Food Wise 2025 is our shared strategy for the sustainable growth of the sector. I chair the Food Wise High Level Implementation Committee (HLIC), with high level representatives from all the relevant Departments and State agencies. The committee reviews progress on detailed actions on a quarterly basis, in order to identify and solve problems quickly. In light of the UK vote to leave the EU, Brexit has been included as a standard item on the agenda of each meeting of the HLIC. It is clear that driving the implementation of the Food Wise recommendations, particularly those related to market development, competitiveness and innovation, is more important than ever in the light of Brexit.
Earlier this month, I launched the third annual progress report of Food Wise 2025: Steps to Success 2018. This showed that, of the 375 detailed actions which were due to commence by 2018 or are on-going actions; 74% have been achieved or substantial action has been undertaken; and a further 26% have commenced and are progressing well.
