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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 1 Jul 1999

Vol. 507 No. 4

Written Answers. - Live Exports.

Jan O'Sullivan

Question:

21 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if the promotion and develop ment of the live shipping trade was discussed by the beef task force; if not, the plans, if any, he has to develop this aspect of the beef industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16937/99]

The remit of this beef task force, which I established last November, was to prepare a strategic plan for the beef industry covering all levels from primary production right through to processing and marketing with a view to putting the beef industry on a firm footing. The report which has now been submitted to me contains a list of recommendations on how these objectives can be achieved.

The development and promotion of the live export trade was not specifically included in the remit of the task force or its terms of reference. This trade is, however, a very important feature of the Irish cattle industry. Every effort will continue to be made to ensure that Irish producers have access to all export markets and that adequate facilities are available to allow the trade to function properly. So far this year over 175,000 cattle have been exported to EU and third country markets. This represents a threefold increase on 1998 levels and is almost nine times the level exported in 1997.

The buoyant live export trade to EU markets has underpinned weanling market prices over this past year, while the export of finished cattle to the Lebanon has also had a major impact on this end of the market.

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