Bord Bia: Motion [Private Members]
Dail Éireann — 2026-02-04
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Timmy Dooley (FF), Clare

-----and the complexities of meeting the demands and needs of a changing marketplace. It is not all about carcasses moving to and fro.
We have heard about the remarkable growth in the value of agrifood exports over the last decade and more from an export value of €10 billion in 2011 to an estimated €21 billion in 2025. That figure is a truly a record. Our export destinations are well balanced between the EU, the UK and international markets. We all know the importance of market diversification in these volatile geopolitical times. We also know that Bord Bia has played a key role in that success. We have heard about its success in promoting our top-quality food and drink overseas. Like the Minister of State, Deputy Grealish, I have witnessed this at first hand on trade missions and at trade fairs. I certainly concur with his view of the excellent teams on the ground. I was recently in the position of political leadership of a mission to China. It was principally about fish but it was also about beef, offal and green offal. I saw the work that had been done under the guidance of the chairman and chief executive to put in place teams on the ground that were speaking in Mandarin, engaging with customers and bringing them to political events. I saw how well regarded Bord Bia was. That does not happen by accident. It is easy to suggest that you can isolate one individual and call for a head and for summary judgment so that you can get it done and move on. If the Government or some other body were to follow through on that approach, it would have implications. It would send the message that there was an issue at the core of the quality of Irish beef. It would bring into question the very standards that put farmers to the pin of their collar.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-02-04/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:35+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-02-04