Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 October 2018
39. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the supports provided to Bord Bia to assist Irish agrifood businesses to find new markets for their produce in the context of a potentially changed trading environment post-Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41296/18]
View answerI am firmly committed to increasing market access and opportunities for all Irish agri-food exports around the world. Total agri-food exports amounted to €13.6 billion in 2017, according to the Central Statistics Office trade statistics, an increase of 74% since 2009. My Department officials continue to work towards opening and enhancing access to as many markets as possible. This is a key part of our response to the challenges and uncertainty posed by Brexit, and is in line with the market development theme of the Food Wise 2025 strategy. Opening new markets involves a wide range of detailed work taking place across a range of levels including political, diplomatic, technical and official levels. This year already, I have led trade missions to the US, Canada and China. I will be leading a delegation to Indonesia and Malaysia very shortly and my colleague, Minister Doyle will be visiting China.
Bord Bia’s work is critical to the successful growth of our food and drinks exports.
The development of the Origin Green programme, providing proof of the sector’s sustainability credentials, has played an important part. Bord Bia also works closely with my Department to prioritise and develop new markets, building on its significant investment in consumer and retail insights.
As an agency, Bord Bia has played a key role in our Brexit response to date, facilitating conversations at the highest levels with UK retail CEOs, and ensuring that our ongoing commitment to the UK market is fully understood. We have no intention of stepping back from the UK market. On the contrary, we will redouble our efforts to build on our consumer reputation and strong relationships to maximise growth and supply high quality and innovative products to our neighbouring island.
Bord Bia’s Brexit Barometer has been used to identify evolving client priorities and concerns and to further inform Bord Bia’s Brexit programmes and supports. As a result of the many findings from that exercise, Bord Bia has launched a series of Brexit support programmes focussed on supply chains, customs requirements regarding trade, and currency risk for the industry.
Significant additional funding has been provided to Bord Bia in various tranches since the Brexit referendum, as a key part of our Brexit response for the food industry. Bord Bia received approval in 2018 to recruit 32 additional staff as part of the wider Brexit response. A recruitment campaign commenced in April 2018 and so far 22 positions have been filled. Recruitment is ongoing for the balance and it is hoped that these additional staff will be in place by end of the year. 13 of these positions are to be based abroad in line with the Government policy of doubling our Global footprint.
I am pleased that in this week's Budget I secured the allocation of a further €5.35 million to Bord Bia for 2019, bringing its total grant in aid to €46.6 million for 2019. This compares to a grant in aid of €28.9 million in 2014, an increase of over 60% over five years.
