The continued development of the pigmeat sector is a priority for me, given the pivotal role the industry plays in the national economic context. It is the fourth largest agri-food sector accounting for 6.3% of the total agri-food output. The sector supports approximately 8,000 jobs spanning production, slaughter, processing, feed manufacture and services and has played a key role in meeting targets set out in Food Wise 2025.
The submission referred to is detailed and covers a range of issues including animal welfare and environmental issues. This submission is being considered within the Department.
In the meantime, I would like to highlight that given the strategic importance in which the sector plays in our agri economy, and on foot of the work of the Pig Industry Implementation Group (PISG), a new format for stakeholder engagement was established earlier this year, the Pig Roundtable. The Pig Roundtable's focus is on key strategic developments in the sector, determined primarily by high level strategic drivers including the Programme for Government and the new Agri Food Strategy to 2030.
It will serve as a conduit for constructive engagement and to enable the Department to work in tandem with industry and farming partners in delivering on both the opportunities available and challenges faced by the sector. Membership of the group includes pig farmers, farm and processing sector representative bodies, Teagasc, Bord Bia and officials from the Department.
At the inaugural meeting of the Roundtable which was held on the 28th April 2021, with my colleague Minister of State Martin Heydon as Chair, it was agreed that the group will meet quarterly with each meeting centered around a key specific theme for the sector.
The next meeting is scheduled for 28th July 2021 and the agreed theme is animal welfare, which aligns with many of the issues raised in the submission. Alongside the Pig Roundtable, officials continue to liaise closely with the representative bodies on key issues.
