Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 January 2021
247. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the main policy initiatives undertaken by his Department since 27 June 2020; and his main priorities for 2021. [2078/21]
View answerSince publication of the Programme for Government in June 2020, my Department has been progressing the 161 actions identified in the "Agriculture, Food and the Marine" chapter, as well as actions in other chapters for which it has shared responsibility. I have had regular briefings with my Department’s Management Board on priority actions and progress.
One of the main policy initiatives currently under way is the process to develop a new agrifood strategy to 2030. The agrifood sector has been well served over the last 20 years by having a series of stakeholder-led strategies to guide its development. The Programme for Government has committed to an ambitious blueprint for the industry for the years ahead, adding value sustainably in the agrifood sector into the future, and supporting primary producers and employment in rural Ireland. There is also a commitment to ensure that, in addition to growing international markets and value-added export as a key priority, a strategic focus of the strategy will be on environmental protection, reversing biodiversity decline and developing additional market opportunities for primary producers. A 2030 Strategy Stakeholder Committee, under the Chairmanship of Mr. Tom Arnold, is continuing its work with a view to publishing the strategy later this year.
My main priorities for 2021 include:
- managing the outcome of Brexit, particularly the implications of the Agreement for the fisheries sector, and building a new trading relationship for our agrifood sector with Great Britain;
- representing Irish interests in the current reform of the Common Agricultural Policy, and development of Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan;
- addressing environmental sustainability issues including climate, biodiversity and water quality;
- continuing to provide appropriate supports to primary producers; and
- the ongoing development of the agrifood sector generally, including trade, food safety and animal health and welfare issues.
