Food Exports 'Driving Recovery'

Irish food exports increased by almost £200 million compared to the same time last year, new figures from the Central Statistics Office have revealed.

Welcoming the figures, Fine Gael's Marcella Corcoran, said that the "quality of our produce and of the rural communities driving this growth."

"Between January and July in 2015 exports of food including meat, cereal and fish have all increased compared to the same period last year. This is a strong indication of the quality of the produce here in Ireland, but it is also a vote of confidence for rural communities where the majority of our food comes from," Deputy Corcoran said.

"There is no doubt that there is a demand out there for high quality Irish products; this is where our farmers and other food manufacturers excel.

"Rural Ireland is at the core of food production and is driving growth in exportation. We are very lucky to have so many vibrant and entrepreneurial people working the land, producing food and marketing products.

"I am confident that with continued support, and as rural Ireland benefits further from the economic recovery, this area of the export market can continue to grow and thrive."

(MH/LM)