Eric J. Byrne
Question:11 Mr. Byrne asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the latest position regarding the proposed resumption of meat exports to Iran; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Meat Exports to Iran.
There have been extensive consultations at ministerial and other levels between the Irish and Iranian authorities on the sale of Irish beef to Iran. Technical discussions are still taking place and it is hoped that these will be concluded very soon.
I am disappointed that no further progress has been made since the Minister's visit to Iran and Libya. Will the Minister agree that the fundamental problem in regard to re-establishing the market with Iran is that they do not believe our herds are BSE free? Will the Minister further agree that there is documentary evidence in the possession of the Iranian Government, from an international veterinary organisation in Paris, which suggests that the incidence of BSE is much higher in Ireland than officially reported?
That is an outrageous and ill-founded statement. Indeed, the fact that the Deputy made it in the national Parliament makes it all the more serious. I will take it step by step. The Deputy said that there had been no progress in discussions between the Iranian and Irish authorities since October. I regret to tell the Deputy—because it saddens him to hear good news—that the opposite is the case. When the veterinary officials came here, as a consequence of my visit to Iran in October, at the concluding meeting with departmental officials, the head of the Iranian veterinary organisation indicated that he would be making a positive report to his Minister regarding the recommencement of exports of beef to Iran. I hope the Deputy does not find that kind of solid good news unwelcome or unpalatable.
As far as any reference to reports from Paris are concerned, any information in relation to Ireland at that meeting was supplied by the Department of Agriculture and Food and their veterinary authorities and was not contradictory of what we had specifically stated. I have told the Iranians and the Libyans that I would not want them to buy one pound of beef unless they were totally satisfied that, as ever, it was absolutely clear.
On a point of order, on three occasions during the course of his reply the Minister attributed less than honourable motives to Deputy Byrne——
That is not a point of order. I will call your colleague who is well capable of dealing with the matter himself.
Will the Minister agree that the Third Secretary of the Iranian Embassy——
The Deputy seems to be quoting which is not in order at Question Time. Deputy Byrne knows that.
Will the Minister agree that the Third Secretary of the Iranian Embassy is on record as having said that the Irish Government have not convinced their Government that the herd was BSE free? The obligation, as they rightly stated, is on the Minister's Department to prove to the Iranians that the herd is BSE free. Because this has not been done no real progress has been made regarding the export of our cattle to Iran.
I note that the Deputy is now shifting his ground.
I am not.
The last allegation he made was in regard to some Parisian authorities. However, when he realised that that was blatantly untrue, he moved his attention to the Third Secretary in the Iranian Embassy. There is no foundation for the Deputy's remarks in that regard. When was the alleged statement made by the Third Secretary? Was it months ago? I have no evidence of that and, if there was any misunderstanding, it has long since been cleared up. The Deputy should be honest and not try to undermine the interests of this nation. Will the Deputy supply that information?
It came to light last October.
I want to——
There are ways and means of dealing with this matter.
The gentleman in question has since acknowledged that that was a misrepresentation of his position. That happened last October and the Deputy is giving the impression that, since the Iranian visit here, we did not manage to satisfy them. That is a total distortion and is not worthy of a Deputy representing the interests of the people.
What about the export trade?
Whose interest is the Deputy trying to serve?
That is an outrageous remark and the Minister should not make an allegation of that kind.
You can have your private battles afterwards. So far as my knowledge goes I believe they were quite happy with what they saw. This does not mean that we will export cattle to Iran. I understand that none of the Irish meat processors are remotely interested because of the price regime there which means that we would be selling cattle for half nothing. This market is not worth tuppence.
Can we proceed by way of supplementary question.
Will the Minister tell the House how meat processors operate any export credit insurance on the product at the moment, or is such available? Is not the key issue that nobody wants to handle it? The Minister should not give the impression to Irish farmers that the Iranian market is opening, because it is not.
This is leading to argument.
It is not and the Minister knows it.
The question of export credit insurance never arose in respect of Iran.
Does it now?
It does not. That is a fact.
(Interruptions.)
It may well be that suppliers will find that other outlets are more attractive than the Iranian outlet. That is a matter for them.
Is it the case? The Minister should know that.
I cannot force suppliers to supply——
The Minister should know that.
Let us hear the reply. Deputy Connaughton has asked questions. He must be good enough to listen to the replies.
(Interruptions.)
Deputy Connaughton persists in interrupting. A brief question from Deputy Byrne. We cannot debate this matter today.
Would the Minister not agree that the problem in satisfying the Iranian Government stems fundamentally from the mislabelling and the incorrect sourcing of meat purportedly being exported from the Republic which in fact was sourced in Northern Ireland and in Great Britain? That is a fundamental problem and relates to the export refunds difficulty of the Minister for Industry and Commerce with the Goodman group.
That relates to another Minister.
There is no basis for that allegation. Whose interest is the Deputy trying to serve by spreading such false allegations in this House?
The Minister is not answering the question.
Question No. 13 please.