Madam, - While no one disputes the tremendous progress the Irish economy has made in recent years, Cliff Taylor's Business Opinion of September 8th does suggest a downgrading of the importance of the agri-food sector. However, it is important to recognise the critical importance of this sector of industry to our continued prosperity.
The combined agri-food and drink sector exports €6.7 billion, accounts for 9 per cent of GDP and directly employs 167,000 people. In particular, the industry plays the major role in the indigenous sector with approximately 50 per cent of exports from Irish owned companies coming from agri-food and drink companies.
At a time when regional balance in our industry is being stressed, the industry is already regionally dispersed and plays a very important role in the rural economy. Finally, the linkage of the agri-food sector to the rest of the economy is exceptionally high.
Mr Taylor is clearly correct to suggest that Ireland needed to consider the full impact on the economy, and all the facts, as it headed into the important WTO talks in Cancún. However, we should not underestimate or undersell the continuing importance of the food and drink industry to the economy and the indigenous sector in particular.
After all, it is the one most natural to us all and one in which we have been highly successful over the years. - Yours, etc.,
MICHAEL DUFFY, Chief Executive, Bord Bia, Lower Mount Street, Dublin 2.