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Brexit Issues

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 February 2018

Tuesday, 13 February 2018

Ceisteanna (72)

Tony McLoughlin

Ceist:

72. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the efforts he is making to seek new markets for agrifood produce produced here in the context of Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6912/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The pursuit and development of new markets for Irish agri-food exports is of course an ongoing and central component of the strategic development of the agri-food sector, as evidenced by its placement right at the centre of Food Wise 2025, the industry’s strategy for development over the coming decade. Indeed, this is all the more relevant after the UK’s decision to leave the EU, which presents significant new challenges for the agri-food sector in particular. 

Food Wise 2025 outlines the huge potential for growth in agri-food exports to new and emerging markets, particularly in Asia, Africa and the Gulf region. This is where our efforts will be focused for the foreseeable future, particularly given the need to diversify our markets and to reduce our reliance on traditional destinations such as the UK.  

In keeping with the priorities outlined in Food Wise 2025 I led a very successful Trade Mission in February 2017 to the Gulf Region, visiting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.  This was followed by an extensive Trade Mission to the US and Mexico in June - markets that offer many potential opportunities for Irish exporters.  The US is the largest food and beverage market in the world and has a population of 324 million people. Around 35 million Americans also claim Irish ancestry.  Mexico has a population of 127 million, making it the eleventh-largest country in the world in population terms and the fifteenth-largest economy in the world, with projections that it will move into the top five by 2050.

During the trade mission in November 2017 to Japan and South Korea, I was accompanied by 40 representatives of the Irish food sector, as well as by experts from my Department, the Chief Executive of Bord Bia and senior representatives from Enterprise Ireland and Teagasc.

This was a very opportune time to bring a delegation of Ireland’s food leaders to this part of the world, given that the EU has concluded a Free Trade Agreement with South Korea as well as agreeing an Economic Partnership Agreement with Japan.  These are markets of high potential for beef, pigmeat and sheepmeat exports, and so it is important that we raise the profile of Irish agri-food enterprises that already have access to these markets, and make progress in negotiating access for others.

My Department is currently making arrangements with Bord Bia and Enterprise Ireland for an upcoming trade mission at the end of February to the US and Canada. Again this will include participants from across the agri-food sector and will feature extensive trade contacts as well as high- level political discussions.  This will already be my second trade mission of 2018 with the most recent to Turkey earlier this month, concentrating primarily on live exports.  

These and the other missions that my Department are planning for 2018 will serve to enhance and improve our existing levels of market access in these destinations. They will also promote Ireland’s reputation as a producer of high quality, safe and sustainably produced meat and dairy products.

The destinations are also in keeping with the recent market prioritisation exercise that was undertaken by Bord Bia at my request. This exercise identified opportunities in new and more mature markets, and provides valuable market intelligence both for industry operators and policy makers.

My Department will continue to seek out and identify new markets and I am ready to respond as appropriate to other opportunities as they arise.

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