Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 16 Dec 1997

Vol. 485 No. 2

Written Answers. - Volume and Source of Imports.

Paul McGrath

Question:

62 Mr. McGrath asked the Taoiseach the volume and source of beef imported into this country in each of the past five years. [22554/97]

Paul McGrath

Question:

63 Mr. McGrath asked the Taoiseach the volume and source of liquid milk imported into this country in each of the past five years. [22555/97]

The Taoiseach

The latest period for which figures are available is July 1997. The following tables provide details of the volume and origin of beef and liquid milk imported for the seven month period January-July 1997 and for each of the years 1993-96.

Imports of beef by country of origin (tonnes)

	1993	1994	1995	1996	Jan-July 1997
Northern Ireland	5,605	11,029	10,832	3,637	1,863
Great Britain	3,970	6,329	10,788	3,623	2,951
Australia	21	58	14	949	137
Argentina	0	0	78	851	378
France	266	378	698	591	39
Netherlands	304	145	348	427	559
New Zealand	0	0	181	276	81
Belgium/Luxembourg	2	14	59	127	15
Brazil	0	0	72	105	300
Other	343	2,488	2,862	664	1,467
Total	10,511	20,441	25,932	11,250	7,790

Imports of liquid milk by country of origin (tonnes)

	1993	1994	1995	1996	Jan-July 1997
Northern Ireland	85,264	72,846	163,351	149,991	104,624
Great Britain	888	425	3,688	8,423	175
Other	10	8	35	17	8
Total	86,162	73,279	167,074	158,431	104,807

It should be noted that, overall, approximately 5 per cent of trade is unclassified by commodity. The unclassified trade consists mainly of intra-EU estimates, including estimates for traders below the import survey threshold of £100,000.