Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Simon Coveney has said farming and fishing will be central to the country's economic recovery in the years ahead.
Speaking in Cork during a visit to the Marine Institute's research vessel 'Celtic Explorer', Minister Coveney described both agriculture and fisheries as growth industries.
He said there was potential to significantly increase employment in food production and processing.
Mr Coveney said he expected the target of a 33% increase in agricultural output by 2020 will be met.
The Minister was prominent among a group of Fine Gael TDs who expressed no confidence in Enda Kenny's leadership of the party last June.
He said today that Mr Kenny's leadership was ‘undisputed’, that his relationship with him was good and that they had worked well together since the leadership issue in Fine Gael was dealt with last summer.
