15 DFómh 2012, 17:00
The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine will tomorrow meet with representatives from Bord Bia and the Irish Dairy Board to discuss a review of Food Harvest 2020.
15 October 2012
Food Harvest 2020 sets out a vision for smart, green and sustainable growth for the Irish agri-food and fisheries sectors. The strategy, developed by an industry-led committee, includes ambitious targets to increase food exports by 42 percent by 2020.
Bord Bia, the Irish Food Board, is a state agency which links Irish food, drink and horticulture suppliers with existing and potential customers throughout the world. The Irish Dairy Board co-operative, which reported a turnover of €1.9bn in 2010, is Ireland’s largest exporter of dairy products.
Chairman of the Committee Andrew Doyle TD says: “Agri-food is the largest indigenous sector of the Irish economy and is labour intensive, employing about 150,000 people nationwide. Food Harvest 2020 recognises that the industry will be a cornerstone to Ireland’s economic recovery. As the sector is so embedded in Irish life, the export growth will have an impact far greater than that of other sectors, particularly in terms of job creation.”
“Last week, we heard a series of informative and thought-provoking presentations from food producer representatives on the ambitious targets for Food Harvest 2020. Tomorrow, we will hear the distinct perspectives from those on the frontline in exporting Irish food and dairy produce worldwide. Committee Members will be particularly keen to gauge what policy decisions are required to bolster the competitiveness of the sector and ensure that the export targets are reached.
“On foot of our discussions, the Committee intends to report to the Minister on our findings on the current status of Food Harvest 2020 and what further policy actions will be required for the targets to be achieved.”
This meeting will take place at 2 pm tomorrow, Tuesday 16 October in Committee Room 3, Leinster House 2000.
Committee proceedings can be followed live here.
Ends
For further information contact:
Paul Hand,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 6949926
F: +3531 618 4551
paul.hand@oireachtas.ie
Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine - Membership
Deputies:
Tom Barry, Fine Gael
Pat Deering, Fine Gael
Martin Ferris, Sinn Féin
Andrew Doyle, Fine Gael
Martin Heydon, Fine Gael
Colm Keaveney, Labour
Michael McNamara, Labour
Eamon Ó Cuiv, Fianna Fáil
Thomas Pringle, Independent
Senators:
Michael Comiskey , Fine Gael
Paschal Mooney, Fianna Fáil
Pat O’Neill, Fine Gael
Mary Ann O’Brien, Independent
Brian Ó Domhnaill, Fianna Fáil
Susan O’Keeffe, Labour