Avril Doyle
Question:2 Mrs. Doyle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the legal avenue he is considering to seek compensation from the German Government for the damage done to the good name and quality reputation of Irish beef.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Beef Exports.
John Bruton
Question:56 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if the issue of proposed German restrictions on Irish beef imports will be placed on the agenda for the next EU summit.
Robert Molloy
Question:58 Mr. Molloy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he has satisfied himself that CBF has been given adequate financial resources to effectively market Irish beef in Germany; and the measures, if any, he proposes to take to re-establish the good name of Irish beef on the market following the adverse publicity regarding BSE.
Proinsias De Rossa
Question:66 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the response, if any, he has received from the German authorities regarding their threat to impose restrictions on the importation of Irish beef, arising from the BSE scare; if he has satisfied himself that Irish beef will have unimpeded access to the German market; the plans, if any, he has for a new promotional campaign for Irish beef in Germany to counter any possible adverse impact of recent developments; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 2, 56, 58 and 66 together.
I am glad to say that, as a result of representations by the Government and by myself, the German authorities have decided not to include Ireland on the list of countries affected by the proposed restrictions on the import of beef. Consequently, there is no need to raise the matter at the next EU Summit. Neither would it be appropriate to take legal action against the German Government. I am now satisfied, that Irish beef will continue to have unimpeded access to the German market. In order to offset the effects of any adverse publicity on the reputation of Irish beef in Germany, I have asked CBF to intensify their promotional activities there and I am satisfied that CBF have adequate financial resources for this purpose. CBF have already met with leading German importers and distributors of Irish beef to reassure them of the high health status and quality of Irish beef.
I thank the Minister for his response. I am glad Deputy John Bruton, the Leader of Fine Gael, and I gave the Minister and the Government all the support they needed in making the case very clear to Germany in relation to the safety and health status of Irish beef. Does the Minister agree that significant damage was done to the quality image of our beef, in association with Irish food generally, by the innuendo and the scare by the German Health Minister in relation to Irish beef and the implied health risks associated with it? Does he agree that damage was done and that there is consumer resistance, at least pro tem, in Germany as a result of that totally unwarranted scare and profoundly unfriendly act by the Germans?
I acknowledge the understanding of Deputy Doyle, Deputy Bruton and the House in this matter, on which we had a useful and positive debate. Our unanimity was extremely helpful. The proposed draft was not helpful but I believe that is short term. CBF has assured me that in previous situations in other countries where there was short term adverse publicity they quickly got over it and I believe that will happen in this instance also, with the help of an additional promotional campaign which they are already undertaking.
I take it that the Minister's reply reaffirms that damage, albeit short term, was done to the image of Irish beef on the supermarket shelves in Europe. Am I right in assuming that that was the thrust of the Minister's reply? I feel strongly, and I ask the Minister to take this on board, that the attempt by the German Health Minister to couple the BSE problem in the UK with the situation in Ireland was extremely damaging. We need to show our strength of feeling on what was done to all our food markets by pursuing, through the courts, an action for damages to the good name not only of Irish beef production but quality Irish food generally. Food production in Ireland is of enormous importance to our GNP. It was our raison d'être for being part of the European Union in its infancy, way back in the EEC days. If we do not take a stand——
That is not for this time.
——on this act of potential commercial sabotage it could be tried again during elections in other European countries where they are trying to protect the domestic producer in certain areas. I ask the Minister to consider legal action, not just to protect Irish beef but as a mark of our strength to show we are prepared to protect the quality image of Irish food products.
My information from both CBF and the industry is that no orders were lost as a result of adverse publicity.
That is not true.
Nonetheless, the publicity was unhelpful and sales of red meat declined during that period. This was a draft proposal and the German authorities listened to reasoned argument and accepted that we have stringent controls here, that we take the production of quality food seriously and that we assure customers in relation to the safety of Irish food. I believe legal action would be unhelpful and would further highlight the situation and would be seen by the German authorities as ungrateful and unfriendly.