Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 November 2010
240 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food his development programme, if any, for the dairy sector over the next five years; the degree to which this relates to progress over the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40856/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy development programme for the dairy sector is, in fact, a ten-year one, taking the sector to milk quota abolition and beyond. The Food Harvest 2020 report, which I launched during the summer with the Taoiseach, outlines the positive prospects for the dairy sector over the medium- to long-term, and sets an ambitious target of a 50 per cent increase in milk production by 2020. It outlines a number of recommendations designed to support the realisation of this potential growth, ranging from milk processing to on-farm competitiveness, technology transfer, and R&D and marketing. I have established, and am chairing, a very focused High Level Implementation Group which will ensure effective, joined-up action, and will act as a clearing house for the range of issues that are likely to arise in relation to the development of the agriculture sector as a whole.
I have also recently established the Dairy Expansion Activation Group, comprised of dairy farmers, processors and Teagasc, which I have tasked with addressing the specific actions required to achieve the dairy expansion target. I have asked for an initial ‘road map' to be submitted to the High Level Implementation Group by the end of November, highlighting key milestones and identifying how any obstacles to implementation should be overcome.
Of course this focus on how to deal with future challenges is a continuation of the approach that I have taken to the implementation of milk policy in recent years. Having secured as much additional quota as possible for Irish dairy farmers in the run up to quota abolition through the November 2008 Health Check agreement, I have continued to strive to get as much of that quota as possible into the hands of active producers while at the same time encouraging the adoption of best practice on dairy farms so that they can continue to be competitive through improved efficiency.
Innovative measures such as simplified and flexible milk quota regulations, new rules for participation in Milk Production Partnerships, the Milk Quota Trading Scheme, new measures to encourage new entrants, and the Dairy Efficiency Programme have helped the sector to progress significantly in recent years, as has the ongoing investment at processing level supported by the Dairy Investment Fund. I intend to ensure that the implementation of Food Harvest 2020 builds on this momentum, and I am confident that it will help to ensure that the dairy sector achieves its full potential.
