Coveney prioritises CAP and Rural Development Programme

A critical and exciting time lies ahead for the agri-food sector, Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney told the Dáil when outlining his priorities for the remainder of his term in office.

In a written reply to Fianna Fáil TD Barry Cowen, Mr Coveney said the coming year will see the transition to the new Common Agricultural Policy.

It will also see the roll-out of the Rural Development Programme which will deliver a vital injection of strategic investment into rural communities and provide essential supports for family farms.

The CAP will provide the basis for delivering on the overall objectives of the Food Harvest 2020 strategy.

Significant progress has already been achieved under the strategy and Mr Coveney said he was committed to delivering on the plan.

His aim is to ensure that all sectors within the agri-food sector benefit from the growth envisaged in output under the strategy.

Central to this is the fundamental importance of providing a valuable market for the output of the farming sector across the range of activities.

Mr Coveney said in this context, the ending of dairy quotas in 2015 provides a significant opportunity for growth and expansion.

“Managing the transition to this change in market conditions is a firm focus for me,” he said, adding that he is cognisant of the challenges facing the beef sector.

Through the establishment of the beef forum and other strategic measures being considered by the Department of Agriculture, he said he is focused on ensuring that the sector will overcome the current difficulties being experienced.

In tandem with the roll-out of the CAP, he said the implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy is a strategic focus for him. This presents many opportunities for the seafood sector.

Together with the potential to add value in the processing sector, the targets set out in Food Harvest 2020 for the seafood sector are achievable, he said. “The continued implementation of the Harnessing our Ocean Wealth Strategy will also prove essential to the wider economic development of the marine,” he said.

Mr Coveney said that, overall, he is firmly committed to ensuring that the agri-food sector continues to contribute significantly to broader economic recovery and to build on the progress already achieved in terms of export growth.

“There are a wide range of other areas where work is ongoing and I will continue to prioritise these projects to support all stakeholders in the agri-food sector and the broad remit of my department,” he said.