Vol. 492 No. 1
80 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will outline the market conditions for the pig industry; the number of people employed within his Department who are actively marketing, promoting and selling Irish pork; and the body to which they are accountable. [13448/98]
81 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will give details of the sales of Irish pigmeat in 1997 on the domestic and export markets and for an average week. [13449/98]
82 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the markets for pig produce; and the body to which the promoters of Irish pork are accountable. [13450/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 80, 81 and 82 together.
Current market prices for pigs throughout the EU by comparison with this time last year are down 33 per cent. This is because production has increased in many member states, including Ireland, following a shortage of supplies last year which was brought about by severe outbreaks of classical swine fever in the Netherlands, Germany, Spain and Belgium.
This problem is now resolved, and the affected member states are increasing output to pre-disease levels, resulting in turn in increased supplies and lower prices. The European Commission has recently introduced, following a request from Ireland and other member states, export refunds for pigmeat, which should help the market.
Bord Bia is the State body responsible for the promotion of pigmeat sales and is under the aegis of my Department. The marketing of pigmeat is a commercial function for those involved in the industry.
