Martin Heydon

Communicate challenges faced by food and drink industry as it relates to the EU-US trade deal

Communicate food industry priorities in relation to increased costs, ongoing trade and supply disruptions and wider competitiveness pressures for Budget 2026

Highlight the impact of US tariffs and trade uncertainty on the export focussed Irish drinks manufacturing sector and the need for Government actions to support the sector including removal of tariffs, market diversification supports and deferral of impending alcohol labelling…

Emphasize the importance of market diversification for the Irish Whiskey sector - highlighting the importance of the Japanese market for future growth of agri-food exports, requesting additional support for exporters i.e. increased funding for market expansion, reducing…

To meet with the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine to discuss the difficulties experienced by An Rialálai Agraibhia in voluntarily obtaining price and market information direct from suppliers that was not otherwise in the public domain from a number of…

To highlight that the Green Public Procurement Strategy and Action Plan requires that a minimum of 10% of food purchased via public procurement must now be certified organic. While it is positive that the strategy calls for additional organic produce to be used, it does not…

Ensure awareness of food industry priorities on manufacturing policy relating in particular to three major challenges - the cost of labour, the cost of materials and the regulatory environment

Ensure awareness of food industry priorities related to competitiveness, energy costs, innovation, EU Single Market, international markets, food waste, nitrates derogation, Agri-food Regulator powers, labour and the Experience Economy.

Ensure understanding of the contribution of the food and drink industry to achieving the relevant goals of Food Vision 2030

Communicate the impact of US tariffs on the wider Irish drinks industry and need for co-ordination between Ireland / EU

Meeting with  Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon at the Danone factory in Wexford, to share an overview of Danone’s business in Ireland, and role within the Irish agri-food and dairy sector.

Brief on Drinks Ireland policy priorities for the growth of the Irish drinks industry 2025-2030