Fianna Fáil Agriculture Spokesperson Charlie McConalogue has criticised Minister Michael Creed for the limited resources which have been allocated to access new markets for Irish agri food products in response to the Brexit situation.
New information supplied to Fianna Fáil reveals that the Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine has “a dedicated market access unit comprising five people”.
Deputy McConalogue commented, “this is a woefully inadequate allocation in the face of one of the biggest economic challenges confronting the agri-sector in decades.
“Irish farmers and the Irish agri-food industry is the most exposed sector should the UK leave the single market and customs union. A hard border and any potential return to customs controls would be catastrophic given that 40% of total Irish agri food exports go to the British market. If we are to protect our industry, we urgently need to source new markets outside the UK to trade with.
“I find it deeply worrying that the Minister thinks that a team of five people is sufficient to pitch Ireland to new meat export markets. The fact that there is no dedicated market access staff for dairy is also concerning and speaks for itself.
“Ireland has only 5 agriculture attachés stationed in Irish embassies outside the EU. It’s about time the Minister and his Department woke up to the scale of the threat coming down the road – he must review the current staffing levels to ensure that we have an adequate diplomatic presence on the ground to open new markets so that our largest indigenous industry is protected.
“Regrettably, a clear pattern is emerging with regard to insufficient staff resourcing in anticipation of Brexit within the Department – with just 5 staff members assigned to a dedicated Brexit unit. Contrast this with the newly established UK Department for Exiting the European Union, which employs over 335 officials.
“All Government supports and policy levers need to be activated to safeguard farmers and Irish agri food enterprises from a hard Brexit. No amount of Government spin can detract from the fact that the contingency planning and staff resources are nowhere where they need to be and I will be continuing to push this issue with the Minister and his Cabinet colleagues”.
DÁIL QUESTION addressed to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Michael Creed) by Deputy Charlie McConalogue
“To ask the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine the number of civil servants in his department allocated to work exclusively on market access; the number of persons that work on market access exclusively for the sectors of beef, dairy, lamb, pig meat and poultry; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
REPLY.
“Irish food and drink exports increased by 2% in 2016 to reach €11.15 billion and Ireland exports food and drink to around 180 countries all over the world. One of the Department’s priorities now, particularly in the context of Brexit, is to further increase the market opportunity for Irish food and drink internationally, especially for the meat and dairy sectors.
“Indeed this principle of market development is already a key component of Food Wise 2025. We have achieved significant successes in recent years in conjunction with the various stakeholders to increase the number of markets to which we enjoy access. In terms of beef market access, 2016 saw some considerable successes including the extension of our beef market access to the USA to include Beef Intended for Grinding (BIFG) as well as the opening of the Canadian, New Zealand and Israeli beef markets.
“Significant steps were also taken in terms of beef market access to China, South Korea and Vietnam in conjunction with the Trade Mission there. 2017 has already seen the re-opening of the Egyptian market to Irish beef and beef exports have now commenced. It has also seen the extension of our beef market access to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to include a range of minced and processed beef products, as part of my Trade Mission there.
“My Department is also working on expanding market access for sheepmeat, pigmeat, poultry and cooked meats across a range of markets and is also working to simplify certification procedures in a number of markets to which we already have access. The meat market access work involves staff across the department, including veterinary services, laboratory staff, inspectorate staff, International Trade Division and a wide range of other divisions, in completing market access questionnaires, facilitating incoming inspection visits, participating in diplomatic meetings, agreeing export health certificates etc. All of this inter-connected work facilitates the accessing of new markets, and on the meat side is co-ordinated by a dedicated market access unit comprising five people. The unit also works very closely with external stakeholders such as Bord Bia, the industry, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and its Embassies abroad. I have committed to providing additional resources to for market access unit and am at present making the necessary arrangements.
“Further to my response of 28 March 2017 the table beneath indicates the number of agriculture attachés in the locations identified.
Abu Dhabi – 1
Beijing – 1
Geneva – 1
London – 1
Moscow – 1
Paris -1
Rome – 1
Washington – 1
“Permanent Representation Brussels – Brussels – 4 staff (2 attachés, 1 Counsellor and 1 Executive Officer)”
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