Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 November 2010
8 Deputy Johnny Brady asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the priorities he has identified for the Food Harvest 2020 implementation group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40758/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraFood Harvest 2020, the blueprint for the development of the agrifood and fisheries sector for the next decade, was presented to Government in July this year. In my view, achieving its ambitious targets will require a concerted, co-ordinated and flexible contribution from all the key players: primary producers, industry, Departments and State agencies.
I have established and am chairing the high level implementation committee. The committee consists of all the key actors on the State sector and its function is to direct and take whatever actions are necessary to successfully implement Food Harvest 2020. As necessary, it will also act as a clearing house to steer any wider issues affecting the sector's development.
The committee held its inaugural meeting on 16 September and agreed that the following areas should be progressed: the development of the dairy sector; ensuring a credible sustainable agenda, including Brand Ireland; improving competitiveness and promoting effective business models; prioritising and advancing innovation, research and entrepreneurship; and the profitability of the beef sector. The next meeting of the HLIC is scheduled for 10 November and will progress a number of these issues.
Critical commercial decisions are required on production trends, product mix, and processing capacity for the dairy sector. The dairy expansion activation group was established on 15 October to further this objective. I have asked this group, consisting of farmers, processors and Teagasc, to submit to the committee by end November an initial road map which will highlight the key milestones from the production and processing perspectives, identify obstacles to implementation and how these should be overcome.
Within the overall framework of a joined-up State effort on implementation of Food Harvest 2020, State body chief executive officers and senior Department officials are being assigned responsibility for progressing actions and are taking lead roles for those cross-cutting issues which require collaboration. The important role of research and innovation in pursuing these goals was demonstrated by the recent €10 million call for research proposals under the three public good programmes. These focused on the smart, green growth objectives of Food Harvest 2020.
The €100 million competitiveness fund for the food industry, which Enterprise Ireland operates on behalf of the Department, continues to focus on improving competitiveness and costs. In particular, the lean initiative will be important in helping to achieve the 20% improvement in competitiveness recommended by Food Harvest 2020. This successful programme is being rolled out to further companies in the sector.
The innovation voucher initiative is being used by smaller food companies to move their business onto the next level and to add value to their product. Bord Bia's marketing initiatives such as Marketplace 2010 are delivering results. Its vantage services, as well as the work of its marketing fellows, have benefited many companies. These services and schemes are being extended.
While the above illustrates some of the actions taken to date, I will continue to lead and prioritise the implementation of this important national policy document across the full range of its 200 recommendations.
I thank the Minister for his comprehensive report. I particularly welcome the recommendation from the 2020 committee to create an umbrella brand of Irish food and drink. The report sets out several key steps to progress the development of a Brand Ireland which will deliver a coherent, unified message to all sectors of the agrifood industry. Is the Minister convinced the agrifood sector will deliver real returns and be at the forefront of the country's economic recovery?
I thank the Deputy for his apt question. I believe this sector can contribute enormously to an economic recovery based on export-led growth. The increase in food exports this year was heartening. At all the agrifood fora I recently attended, I noted how positive the various agencies and companies were to the programme.
At the first meeting of the high-level implementation group, the chief executive of Bord Bia was able to report on the work his agency had already undertaken in establishing a "Brand Ireland". If we think about the success of Kerry Gold in the dairy market, the same brand success is needed for the whole food sector. Not only do we want to get the message out that Ireland produces high quality, safe and nutritional food, but that it is also done in a sustainable manner.
All parties welcome the Food Harvest 2020 report. Will the Minister acknowledge, however, that the implementation body's membership is not wide enough? Will he agree he should have included representatives from this side of the House as we represent a significant proportion of the population? Will the Minister guarantee the €641 million allocated to the agrifood research and development programme will be maintained to achieve this policy?
There may be some lack of detail in the information made available to the public regarding the implementation of the Food Harvest 2020 report. On the day it was launched, I stated I would chair the high-level implementation group. I also said there would not be a rigid system of having one implementation group as different issues will arise in different sectors and there may be different projects we may want to progress.
I have already established a dairy activation group, chaired by Dr. Seán Brady, and comprising farming representatives from different parts of the country such as Kerry, Waterford, south Mayo, Teagasc and various milk processors. I have given the group until the end of the month to produce an initial roadmap. I have spoken to various groups in the food sector who have made suggestions regarding other areas that need to be progressed. We will have other working groups——
Will the Minister discipline himself a little as there are several other Members offering?
——to progress particular ideas. The implementation process will not be over-rigid.
The Irish Farmers’ Journal pointed out Turkey is a potential market for beef exports but its authorities want clarification on our BSE status. Recently at the Irish Co-Operative Organisation Society conference, the chief executive of the Irish Dairy Board identified costs of €850 million to develop the dairy industry, of which €250 million would develop routes to market infrastructure and marketing investment. While we have embassies around the world as well as Enterprise Ireland and Bord Bia, we do not have a coherent marketing plan for the dairy sector. Will these existing facilities and agencies be used? The industry will have to pay for and play its part in this regard but the State must also assist in developing routes to market, as there will be no point in increasing output by 50% if we still only get the same level of income.
We use our embassies for maintaining and opening up dialogue with existing and potential agrifood markets. When we succeeded in re-opening the Chinese market for Irish pork products, I complimented the staff in our Beijing embassy. We also use the support available to us from Bord Bia, Enterprise Ireland and other statutory agencies.
There are different views on the costs of a 50% increase in milk production. Teagasc is still examining certain aspects of it such as lengthening the dairy season which would in turn ease the demand for additional capacity. There is no point in having top-class processing facilities that are idle for a considerable part of the year.
There are still several Deputies who want to come in on this but we are well over time already. Perhaps the Minister will discipline himself?
There has to be greater collaboration between all parties in the industry. I recently met with all the dairy processors regarding the issues and opportunities facing the industry.
I thank the Minister for his reply. I call on Deputy Coonan.
I always like to co-operate with the Leas-Cheann Comhairle.
That is true.
Notwithstanding that he continues to interrupt me. The kernel of this development of the agrifood sector is that the farmer gets a sustainable income from it. Have food exports increased in volume, value or both?
They have increased both in volume and value. At all times, we are working to get access to new markets and expanding access in existing markets. Bord Bia, the Department and the veterinary service do an exceptionally good job in this regard.
I thank the Minister. I want to call on Deputies Sherlock and Johnny Brady for a final supplementary.
In the past 12 months a considerable number of new markets have been opened.
I welcome the Minister's commitment to flexibility in the implementation process. However, the Labour Party believes it needs to be widened. Will the Minister consider engaging with parties on this side of the House to achieve this?
The Common Agricultural Policy can continue to play a vital role in ensuring the supply of high-quality and safe food for our consumers and supporting sustainable production systems in rural communities. What will be the impact on job creation from the implementation of this policy?
There would be a significant growth in jobs with the successful implementation of this policy, along with the post-2013 CAP reforms. With regard to Deputy Sherlock's point, the mechanisms I have put in place to implement this strategy are flexible. They are meant to address the issues that arise. When we deal with a particular issue and hopefully resolve it, we can proceed to deal with the next issue. I will bring in the relevant stakeholders to participate in those discussions. I will be glad to engage with all Members of the Oireachtas through the committee process. I think all Members of the House support the aims of this broad strategy, which we want to progress.
