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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 23 Apr 1997

Vol. 478 No. 2

Other Questions. - Live Cattle Trade.

Hugh Byrne

Question:

11 Mr. H. Byrne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the proposals, if any, he has to open the live cattle trade with Libya, Iran and Egypt; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10773/97]

Three weeks ago I received a technical delegation from Libya who visited Ireland to observe our controls first hand. They told me they were impressed with the control measures we have and they would make a favourable report to the authorities in Tripoli. I have written to my opposite number in Libya to emphasise to him the need for an early favourable decision and I am keeping the matter under close review.

I plan to travel to Egypt early next month, regardless of an election, and will use the occasion of the Cairo Food Fair to continue my efforts to have the market for live cattle reopened, and I intend to meet a number of members of the Egyptian Government.

On Iran, Ireland has never sent live cattle to this market, but we have a substantial, albeit periodic, trade in beef. In so far as the beef trade is concerned, technical discussions are continuing with a view to agreeing a mutually acceptable veterinary Protocol.

Anyone listening in will be disappointed with the Minister's answer. We have listened to the same type of drivel since he came to office. Does he agree that live exports to third countries are an important aspect of our beef industry? I presume he will not suggest, as he did in regard to the quality assurance scheme, that the ban on live trade to those countries has not affected the price of beef. In January the Tánaiste, Deputy Spring, said he was optimistic about the reopening of live trade with third countries.My colleague Deputy Walsh and I met the Egyptian Ambassador yesterday who said a six month ban was imposed on our live trade with Egypt. Will the Minister tell us what was the cause for the optimism expressed in January and the talk about the market being reopened sooner rather than later? Did this give farmers false optimism and cause some of them to keep cattle which otherwise they would not have kept, as a result of which they have suffered financial loss? Last autumn the Minister told us a team of vets was due to come here immediately and I assumed they would arrive in October, November or December. What is the position on that?

The Libyans have come and gone, made a recommendation and we are waiting for the Libyan Government——

When did they come?

They came three weeks ago.

Their visit was imminent last autumn.

I do not have control over their arrangements.

It would be better if the Minister told the truth.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle:

The question was well put, let us hear the reply.

I refute the Deputy's allegation that I did not tell the truth.

The Minister has a record on that. Remember Enniscorthy?

I told the people what the Libyans told me. That they changed their minds is a matter for themselves. I cannot oblige anyone to visit Ireland. Their visit has taken place, their recommendations are in the system and we await developments.This matter is not only a veterinary issue in those countries, but a demand issue in terms of the availability of cattle in other countries.

In relation to Egypt, we wanted to get our level of beef exports right. The volumes are very large and to date this year the volume of exports to Egypt is greater than that to Russia, which is very satisfactory. We have a new certification system which is working well. There is a problem with the price. The market is very competitive. The Argentinians and Australians are active in all third country markets.

I always hope, but I cannot say that my visit to Cairo will be a success. It is the first of its kind in so far as Bord Bia will have a trade presence at the Cairo Food Fair and my visit is also political. I assure the Deputy and the House that the timing of my visit is based on advice I received from the ambassador, the Department of Foreign Affairs, Bord Bia and my Department. They felt that once the issue of the export certification for beef was resolved, and given that the ban was due to be reviewed from June onwards, May was the right time to visit. I do not know what the outcome will be. There is a tradition that Ministers do not travel unless there is a reasonable prospect of success, but I do not want to raise expectations there is any guarantee of success. We must await developments, although I will do my utmost to convince them about the controls we have in place and the reduction in the incidence of BSE in Ireland.

Will the Minister agree that many people might suggest his visit to Cairo is a pre-election stunt? I do not believe that, but many might. The Minister said he told the truth when he said the visit of a team of vets was imminent last autumn. I would not like to suggest the Minister is not telling the truth but recently he said he was in Dublin Airport when we knew he was in Kavanagh's pub in Enniscorthy. I would like the Minister to make more definite statements in future. This will help to build confidence in the farming community which has not been as low for some time.

Before the decision was taken to withdraw our ambassador from Iran, why was the trade commission not convened so that we could export live cattle to Iran? Has the ambassador of any other European country been withdrawn from Iran?

Ireland never exported live cattle to Iran and there is no prospect of doing so. Iran has taken substantial quantities of beef from time to time, although currently there is a ban in place. An Iranian veterinary delegation visited last autumn and a follow up technical mission is being organised for the coming weeks. The mission was to have taken place next week but was postponed for logistical reasons in the wake of the Mykonos judgment and the subsequent recall of our ambassador to Iran and the Iranian ambassador to Ireland. We are maintaining a diplomatic presence in the country and there is every reason to believe diplomatic relations will not unduly delay efforts to reopen that market. The Deputy would be better off allowing us to pursue the Iranians in the normal diplomatic way. Perhaps the less publicity attaching to that, the better.

That is a new stunt. I asked the Minister about the trade commission which I would like him to answer. Has the ambassador of any other European country been withdrawn from Iran?

I know some ambassadors have been withdrawn but I do not have the full details. That question would be more appropriate to the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

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