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The next budget must include a substantial funding increase for Bord Bia to allow it to take on additional staff and to open offices in new markets, Fianna Fáil’s Charlie McConalogue has said.
He said that this would place Ireland and Irish food products on a more secure footing in a post-Brexit world.
McConalogue, the party spokesperson on agriculture and food, has said that he’s very concerned that Bord Bia is not adequately funded or resourced to deal with the post-Brexit scenario.
Despite the outcome of the Brexit referendum last year, the Government only allocated €2m in additional funding to Bord Bia in the 2017 budget, according to Fianna Fáil.
“I am very worried about this Government’s lack of preparedness for Brexit – particularly in the agriculture and food sectors.
“Bord Bia is responsible for promoting and marketing Irish food products, both here in Ireland and right across the globe.”
The industry is facing a very serious challenge following Britain’s decision to leave the EU, and we need to ensure that new markets and opportunities are explored.
“Bord Bia has 13 international offices but only five of them are located outside of the EU.
“Despite the recent conclusion of the EU-Japan trade deal that will allow access of Irish dairy and meat products into the country, there is no Bord Bia bureau in Japan.
“We need to be ahead of our global competitors and first in line in accessing these new markets. However, I am gravely concerned that we are falling behind.”
Funding
On funding, McConalogue said that Bord Bia only received a “measly” €2m in additional funding in Budget 2017, and only four staff have been recruited so far this year.
“This is an appalling level of support for such an important agency, and is a clear indication of this Government’s lack of preparation of one of our most exposed sectors in the face of Brexit.”
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