Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 16 Feb 1995

Vol. 449 No. 3

Written Answers. - Meat Exports.

Ivor Callely

Question:

86 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the total value of our meat exports over the past five years; the countries to which our meat is exported; the targets or proposals, if any, he has to increase meat exports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3539/95]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Mr. Yates)

The total value of Irish meat exports over the past five years has been as follows:

Year	Value (IR£ mil.)
1990	823.1
1991	888.5
1992	1,026.4
1993	1,133.4 (Estimate)
1994	1,205.0 (Estimate)

Sources: C.S.O.

An Bord Bia (for 1994 only)

The countries to which Irish meat was exported in 1994 are as follows:

EU	Middle East
Albania	Bahrain
Bulgaria	Cyprus
Canary Islands	Egypt
Ceuta and Melilla	Iraq
Czechoslovakia	Israel
Faroe Islands	Kuwait
Gibraltar	Lebanon
Hungary	Libya
Malta	Morocco
Norway	Qatar
Old Soviet Union	Saudi Arabia
Poland	U.A.E.
Romania
Russia
Yugoslavia

Africa	Other
Angola	Bahamas
Benin	Barbados
Cameroon	Bermuda
Congo	Brazil
Gabon	Dominica
Ghana	Dominican Republic
Ivory Coast	Grenada
Liberia	Gaudeloupe
Mauritania	Guatemala
Mauritius	Hong Kong
Mozambique	Indonesia
Oman	Japan
Senegal	Laos
South Africa	Mexico
Sudan	New Caledonian
Togo	Netherlands Antilles
Yemen	Ecuador
Zaire	French Polynesia
	Nicaragua
	Pakistan
	Peru
	Philippines
	St. Lucia
	St. Vincent
	Trinidad and Tobago
	Venezuela
	Virgin Islands

I have recently launched a development strategy for the food industry covering the period 1995-99. This strategy sets ambitious targets for the different sectors of the food industry, including the meat sector. For example in the beef sector, exports of vac-pac beef to EU markets are targeted to increase from 113,000 tonnes (carcase weight equivalent) in 1992 to 200,000 tonnes (carcase weight equivalent) in 1999. In addition, overall pigmeat exports are expected to increase from £172 million in 1992 to £250 million in 1999. I am determined that the meat industry will realise its full potential, and in the process, make a major contribution to national wealth and employment.