Introduction
I am delighted to be here in Carroll’s Cross, Co. Waterford, today to open this new Dawn Meats beef processing facility.
I would like to thank Niall Browne for his kind invitation.
Of course my visit here today comes on the back of the very welcome announcement of the new five year contract between McDonalds and Dawn Meats, which has led to the development of this new beef processing facility.
This contract, worth some €300 million over five years, will lead to the processing of some 18,000 tonnes of Irish beef annually.
This will have benefits for jobs and agricultural investment at a time when it is needed most.
The economic growth Ireland is experiencing now is largely driven by exports which continue to perform strongly. This is due in no small part to our agri-food sector. The value of Irish food and drink exports increased by 12% last year to reach an all-time high of €9 billion.
Dawn Meats Group and McDonald’s
The continuation of this success is vital for the country. This is why this opening here today is so important.
The Dawn Meats Group represents an Irish success story. They have grown into one of the biggest food processors in Europe.
For this I want to acknowledge here today the outstanding work, and development in the agri-food sector, that has taken place under the Dawn Meats Group and the Queally family since they established the group in 1980.
We sometimes forget that companies such as Dawn, which started out in a very local way here in Ireland, are now multinational.
They have operations in many EU countries including the UK, France, Holland, Italy, Spain and Poland.
This is really a case of an Irish based and owned multi-national company supplying the needs of one of the largest food service companies in the world – McDonald’s.
Food Harvest 2020
This is a story I would like to see replicated across the agri-food sector. The current strategy of the Government and industry, Food Harvest 2020, is designed to see the sector expand and flourish.
This new facility supports these ambitious plans for growth and the expansion of Ireland’s agri-food industry into the future.
Beef production is the dominant activity on most Irish farms with some 60,000 farms involved in specialist beef production and more than 100,000 farms with beef enterprises.
We are the largest exporter of beef in the European Union with some €1.8 billion in exports in 2011.
We know that Irish beef is the best in the world.
It derives from our grass-based natural production systems, and the application of the highest standards of food safety.
In excess of 20% of all the beef burgers sold by McDonald’s in Europe are produced with Irish beef.
That fact gives me great pride. And I hope that we will see even more Irish beef enjoyed internationally.
We have invested heavily in the development of sophisticated computerised traceability systems for Irish cattle.
We know that we can meet customers’, such as McDonald’s, demand for a top quality beef product.
This assurance helps to underpin the valuable commercial relationships which companies such as Dawn Meats and McDonalds have built over the last twenty-five years.
McDonalds enjoys a strong leadership position in the convenience food market.
I note also that this is the 35th anniversary of McDonalds opening in Ireland.
They have become a valued member of our business community and are now one of the biggest employers in the country with some 4,000 employees.
I would like to thank those members of the McDonalds team who have travelled to be with us here today, such as Jose Armario and Karl Fritz.
Hopefully you will have the opportunity to see at first hand the way we produce food and ingredients that are world class.
Only last week, I launched Bord Bia and industry’s ‘Origin Green’ initiative to build upon Ireland’s strong reputation as a source of natural, high quality food, drink and ingredients.
The goal is that by the end of 2014, over 75% of Irish food and drink exports will be supplied by companies publicly committed to rigorous sustainability targets.
The ultimate target will be for 100% participation, giving Ireland the most comprehensive commitment to food sustainability of any country of origin in the world.
This is why following the recent trip to Ireland of the Chinese Vice President, and my return trip, that we are making progress in resuming Irish beef exports to China.
Last week Minister Coveney signed a number of protocols with a Chinese Government delegation to explore the avenues of proving the high quality and high safety standards of Irish beef.
Minister Coveney is in the US this week and I understand he will be meeting with the McDonalds team on Thursday.
Economy
During these challenging times for the economy the food and drink industry has stood out as a fantastic success story for Ireland Inc.
Today it continues to be a major part of Ireland’s export led recovery, and that success is again proven by today’s announcement.
Despite the difficult international environment we are expecting a second successive year of modest economic growth - driven by exports.
The Government fully recognises the role that the industry can play in recovery and has taken a number of steps to support the sector.
Earlier this year the Government published an Action Plan for Jobs which sets out over 270 actions to boost the business environment.
The agri-food industry is highlighted as a key sector in the plan.
The first quarterly report published in April showed great progress, and our second report will be published in July.
My Government has brought a strong and determined focus to the jobs and growth agenda, and our progress is well recognised internationally.
I want Ireland to be the best small country in the world in which to do business by 2016. Dawn Meats is an example of a company which is actively showing us what is possible, and is providing some fantastic evidence of what can be achieved.
Conclusion
It now gives me great pleasure to declare this new state of the art beef processing facility open.
I would like to wish Dawn Meats and McDonalds continued success in their business relationship.
Thank you.