Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 July 2023
587. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which the various export markets for Irish food and food products have been examined with a view to ensuring their continuity, stability and the need to ensure the availability of sufficient food and food products in the face of worldwide shortages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35531/23]
View answerThe current geo-political environment and challenges presented by Brexit, the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine have created uncertainty on the international markets that Irish agri-food exports depend. My Department closely monitors these developments on an ongoing basis and is supporting the sector in addressing these challenges. For example, the Government has introduced a number of financial supports to support the agri-food sector in the face of Brexit and COVID impacts over recent years.
At a strategic level, Food Vision 2030 sets out a clear ambition to grow the value of Irish exports over the next ten years. This ambition will be realised by implementing actions that are focused on market diversification as well as investment in innovation at producer and processor level, which will drive the competitiveness of Ireland's agri-food offering on international markets. All of this will be underpinned by a food systems approach that has sustainability in all its dimensions - economic, social and environmental - at its core.
I believe that the well-established - and ongoing - commitment of the Government, in partnership with the agri-food sector, to this approach has ensured that Irish agri-food exports have continued to grow, despite recent geo-political shocks. There is a global demand for sustainably produced, high quality food, and I believe that Ireland's agri-food sector is well placed to meet this demand and make a significant contribution to addressing global food security issues into the future.
