Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 February 2004
98 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when he last held a meeting of the groups involved in the dairy industry; the discussions he had and the agreements reached; when the next meeting will take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4856/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe dairy industry is an important sector of Irish agriculture with an annual turnover of approximately €2.5 billion. The future development of this sector is a priority for me. Both my Department and I have meetings with groups involved in the dairy industry on an ongoing basis and on a range of issues. My most recent meeting took place on 10 February when I met the representatives of the Irish Dairy Board.
Since the launch of the Prospectus report in March 2003, I have met most of the larger dairy processing companies with a view to moving forward with the implementation of the key recommendations of the report. I also chaired a dairy forum in September 2003 which proved to be a very informative and useful meeting and which involved all the players in the dairy industry.
I will continue to meet representatives of the industry during 2004 and I hope to provide whatever assistance I can to encourage the sector to make the necessary changes, both at production and processing level, to strengthen and improve its position in the highly competitive international dairy markets in which it operates.
