First is Vincent Carton chief executive with Manor Farm Chickens – the country’s largest poultry processor.

“I’m very happy with the outcome to the report. It has taken us a long time to get here but I am very pleased with the end result,” Carton said.

“We did get in exact what I believe to be the necessary needs to double output in the sector between now and 2025,” he added.

“What the report has particularly identified are the labelling laws and the operational of scale as two key components in reaching these targets. What this reports says is that Ireland should emulate scale in the poultry sector that we have seen in other countries,” Carton said specifically referencing the recent acquisition of Moy Park in Northern Ireland by the Brazilian company JBS.

Carton added that country of origin labelling laws, aimed at curbing the volume of imported chicken coming into Ireland will be a “game changer” in reaching the report’s targets.

“Now people can know that what there is eating is Irish food, is Irish chicken when they go and buy it,” Carton said.

The Food Wise 2025 report suggests the greater “collaboration with processors to build on commercial opportunities and drive returns from fifth quarter.” So does Carton believe that the main poultry processors in Ireland should merge?

“I don’t know if that’s the answer (for Ireland) because there is always going to be the need for competition among the Irish players. We have gone from 14 to four on this island. You could argue that one or two more could consolidate because we are a tiny market. What I think will happen is that the existing players will grow and then we will be able to compete,” Carton concluded.