IBEC - Newsroom

The Irish Dairy Industries Association (IDIA), the IBEC group that represents dairy producers, today welcomed the launch of the 2020 Strategy Report by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. The group said that government must now focus on removing the remaining barriers that hinder growth in the sector.

IDIA Senior Executive Michael Barry said: “The vision for growth is credible if backed by the right government policies. Increasing output requires a renewed focus on competitiveness.

The IDIA said it is vital that the report's recommendations are now implemented. The IDIA called for greater inter-departmental collaboration and the establishment of new group, chaired by the Taoiseach's Department, to bring together all departments whose policies affect the competitiveness of the agri-food industry. As an example of areas requiring leadership by the Department of An Taoiseach, Mr Barry gave the example of climate change policy.

Concluding, Mr Barry said that the early implementation of the report's recommendations would ensure Ireland was well positioned to gain full advantage from EU policies such as CAP Post 2013 and renewed research and innovation programmes.