Austin Deasy
Question:99 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the quantities of beef and live cattle he anticipates will be exported to the Middle East and North Africa in the current year.
Written Answers. - Beef/Cattle Exports to Middle East.
Prospects for exports of beef and cattle to the Middle East and North Africa are better this year than in 1991. The Iranian authorities agreed last November to re-open their market to Irish beef and commercial negotiations are underway. On Libya, there has been a breakthrough on beef and I hope this will be followed later this year by an agreement on the resumption of cattle exports. Exports of beef to other countries in the region such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia are proceeding steadily.
The volume of exports will of course depend on commercial factors such as price and supplies on the international market and, in the case of Iraq the framework for trade set by the United Nations.