Bernard J. Durkan
Question:137 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of new beef markets which have been established in the past three months. [15751/97]
Written Answers. - Beef Markets.
The information requested by the Deputy is not available to my Department.
The development of new beef market outlets for Irish beef exports in primarily a matter for the Irish beef industry itself with the assistance, where appropriate, of my Department and An Bord Bia. I should point out that the Irish beef industry already services markets in approximately 60 countries. While the development of new markets remains an important objective, the emphasis in the State agencies' approach to market development is to seek to increase the quantity and value of our exports to existing markets and particularly those within the EU.