Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:120 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the annual value of the pig industry; the opportunities for expansion in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5231/02]
Written Answers. - Pigmeat Sector.
The Irish pig sector performed well in 2001. The estimated annual value of the pig industry was €328 million, IR£258 million, compared to €272 million, IR£214 million, in 2000.
The pig industry's main challenge is to ensure its continued competitiveness in the face of competition from imports on the domestic market, and the competitiveness of our exports on EU and third country markets. Where we have been excluded from third country markets due to FMD, it has been a top priority to regain access once our OIE FMD-free status was restored. This has been successful in the case of the USA, and a Japanese veterinary delegation is due in Ireland in the coming weeks. I am hopeful that, in the case of Japan, we will be successful in re-entering what has been a valuable outlet for Ireland in the past.
A strategic study of the pigmeat industry on the island of Ireland was commissioned by Minister Bríd Rogers and myself, in order to assess the current state of the industry. The report identifies rationalisation of slaughter capacity, scaling-up of plant size and better capacity utilisation as necessary prerequisites to positioning the industry to compete on national and export markets and bringing it into line with international best practice. There are other recommendations on improving the reliability and consistency of supply to the secondary processing and catering sectors, development of the value added sector and promotion of supply chain agreements.
While most of the findings of the study are very much matters within the control of the industry, Enterprise Ireland has been developing the report findings with pig producers and processors over recent months, and both Enterprise Ireland and my Department will continue to progress the issues raised.
The AgriFood 2010 committee also identified rationalisation of processing capacity as an essential ingredient in achieving competitiveness. The Government's response to this report includes an undertaking that measures under the national development plan will include assistance for suitable projects put forward by the pig processing industry which are consistent with the direction in which the industry needs to go in terms of structure of processing capacity, development of product portfolio and overall competitiveness. Pigmeat is also included in Bord Bia's publicly-funded marketing promotion measures in this country and abroad.