Vol. 500 No. 3
3 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the discussions, if any, which have taken place to date to ensure a future strategic relationship between An Bord Bia and Bord Iascaigh Mhara to promote the overseas marketing of Irish seafood processors and exporters. [3739/99]
I am in communication with my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture and Food on the need to clarify the respective roles of BIM and An Bord Bia with regard to the seafood export marketing function and the future strategic relationship between the two agencies. As I have indicated to the House on previous occasions, the optimum benefits in terms of the use of resources can best be achieved by defining clear complementary roles for both organisations. To give an exclusive remit to either body would not offer the best results.
In general, I believe BIM should retain a specialist marketing focus as the integrated development agency for the seafood sector. There are a number of reasons I have come to this view. They include organisational change in BIM itself over the past two years, my analysis of the specific characteristics and needs of the fisheries sector, trends in the EU and global seafood market and the stated preferences and needs of Irish seafood processors and exporters.
This does not, however, preclude an ongoing important role for An Bord Bia in terms of incorporating seafood into its generic food promotion and trade activities overseas, especially at the top end of the value added chain and in markets where realistically BIM cannot have a presence. An Bord Bia has been doing a first class job for the overall Irish food export sector since inception and the two agencies can work together very effectively as appropriate and without overlap in delivering on their respective and complementary remits.
Officials of both Departments have been discussing mechanisms for delivering the strategic relationship and I am anxious that matters can be finalised quickly with a view to establishing an overall agreed strategic approach which will clarify and set the way forward for BIM and An Bord Bia in this area. I am pleased that good progress has been made to maximise existing and new markets for our seafood wordwide even allowing for the present global difficulties in the pelagic market which BIM and the industry are working together to tackle. Exports have increased by more than 60 per cent since 1990 and are now worth more than £250 million per annum. There will continue to be exponential demand in the EU and worldwide for high value seafood as well as for the flesh product. Strategic co-operation between BIM and An Bord Bia, reflecting their respective expertise and responsibilities, will deliver the most cost efficient and effective of State resources and networks in the global market and is in the best interests of the Irish seafood sector as a whole.
BIM recently attended a meeting of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine. I compliment Mr. Keogh and Mr. Ridge on the good work they are doing with the board. They made an interesting presentation.
Discussions between the two boards have been ongoing since 1994. These have centred on how they complement each other. While I have no problem with BIM retaining the function of promoting the overseas marketing of Irish seafood processors and exporters, it is important to estab lish the nature of the strategic relationship between the two boards.
Last July the Minister gave a similar reply to a question on this matter. Will he indicate when the discussions will be finalised? Is there a deadline? BIM and An Bord Bia are represented in different locations throughout the world. The purpose of these discussions is to maximise seafood potential.
An Bord Bia was eventually established in December 1994 after much discussion. It is important that both boards work closely together. Many developments have taken place in BIM, especially in the marketing sector in the past 18 months to two years. Both the chairman, Mr. Pat Ridge, and the chief executive, Mr. Pat Keogh, are giving a great deal of attention to the marketing sector. This new drive is necessary. The Deputy may have seen the recent advertisement for people which they are hoping will strengthen it considerably.
I had discussions recently with the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Deputy Walsh, about developing and finalising a clear memorandum of understanding. Both I and the Minister agree with the Deputy on this point. If an organisation, such as BIM, is not involved in a marketing drive, we are wasting our time because everything relates to the market. Unless we listen to the consumer and feed back those ideas, we will be second or third best. That is why I am anxious for BIM to have a strong marketing sector which will fit in with the work of An Bord Bia. That is what we are trying to agree. I hope to finalise the memorandum of understanding in the near future and to remove any overlaps where they occur.
As the time for priority questions has now expired, Questions Nos. 4 and 5 will be taken in ordinary question time.
