My Department, in conjunction with Bord Bia, continually monitors and evaluates developments on the priority international markets for Ireland's high-quality, sustainably produced agrifood products.
The current geopolitical challenges presented by Brexit, the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine have created uncertainty on the international markets on which Irish agrifood exports depend, whether that be UK, European or further afield in the US and Asia. Our analysis of the sectoral impacts of these crises has informed the nature of the supports that have been introduced for the sectors effected. For example, the Government has, in recent years, introduced a number of financial supports for the agrifood sector related to Brexit and COVID impacts.
At a strategic level, Food Vision 2030 sets out a clear ambition to grow the value of Irish exports over the next ten years. This ambition will be realised by implementing actions that are focused on market diversification as well as investment in innovation at producer and processor level, which will drive the competitiveness of Ireland's agrifood offering on international markets. All of this will be underpinned by a food systems approach that has sustainability in all its dimensions - economic, social and environmental - at its core.
I believe that the well-established - and ongoing - commitment of the Government, in partnership with the agrifood sector, will ensure that Irish agrifood exports continue to grow, despite recent geopolitical developments.
