Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 March 2017
304. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he continues to monitor the prospects for the dairy, beef, lamb, pigmeat, poultry and fishing sectors here with a view to maximisation of opportunities with consequent economic benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12724/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra305. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the degree to which he remains committed to the concept of support for the family-farm enterprise, having particular regard to any particular challenges or threats; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12725/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 304 and 305 together.
My Department monitors farm income and structures, and market prospects for all sectors, on an ongoing basis. Data and analysis is published on my Department’s website and particularly in publications such as the “Annual Review and Outlook for Agriculture, Food and the Marine”.
In terms of planning for the future, Food Wise 2025, the ten year strategy for the agrifood sector, identifies the opportunities and challenges facing the sector and provides an enabling strategy that will allow the sector to grow and prosper. Food Wise includes more than 400 specific recommendations, spread across the cross-cutting themes of sustainability, innovation, human capital, market development and competitiveness; as well as specific sectoral recommendations.
With regard to the challenges facing the sector, particularly the significant challenge arising from the UK’s vote to leave the EU, it is important to understand that Food Wise is a living and evolving strategy. I will chair the ninth meeting of the High Level Implementation Committee (HLIC), with high level representatives from all the relevant Departments and State agencies, this week. The committee reviews progress on detailed actions on a quarterly basis, in order to identify and solve problems quickly. Brexit has now been included as a standard item on the agenda of each meeting of the HLIC. It is clear that driving the implementation of the Food Wise recommendations, particularly those related to market development, competitiveness and innovation, will assume even greater importance in the light of the UK decision.
Food Wise is not just about expanding production, I believe that moving up the value chain where possible, in terms of the type of products sold and how they are produced, is a fundamental hedge against all kinds of volatility, including the weakness in sterling we have seen since the Brexit vote.
