Vol. 507 No. 4
49 Ms Coughlan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the progress, if any, being achieved in expanding food exports to overseas markets; the progress, if any, being achieved in securing the re-entering of Irish beef into premium retail and food service outlets in the United Kingdom and continental markets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16543/99]
Last year was a record year of exports in the food and drinks industry, with export earnings exceeding the £5 billion mark for the first time. This is a notable achievement given the adverse trading conditions experienced by some sectors such as beef, sheepmeat and pigmeat.
Exports of prepared consumer foods increased by 22 per cent in 1998 accounting for IR £894 million in export earnings, while dairy exports (including food ingredients) were valued at IR £1.66 billion. Exports of sheepmeat increased from 51,000 tonnes in 1997 to 58,000 tonnes in 1998, although the value fell slightly due to weaker returns from France, our principal export market. While the pigmeat industry had a difficult year arising from a combination of increased production world-wide and weaker demand in international markets, exports, nevertheless, increased from 115,000 tonnes in 1997 to 130,000 tonnes in 1998. The value of beverage exports increased by 12 per cent to IR £616 million while exports of edible horticulture rose by 8 per cent in value to IR £122 million.
Last year was also a record year for beef exports which increased by 10 per cent in volume to approximately 510,000 tonnes and by 4 per cent in value to £1 billion. Sales of Irish beef to continental EU markets increased by over 45 per cent, while exports to international markets increased by 5 per cent to 294,000 tonnes.
The export performance by the beef sector was extremely creditable in view of the renationalisation of the EU market since the 1996 BSE crisis. Exports to France increased by 40 per cent to just over 35,000 tonnes. Beef exports to Italy were 35 per cent higher at 27,000 tonnes while sales to Holland increased by almost 50 per cent to 25,000 tonnes. Scandinavia remained a key market for Irish beef during 1998 with exports increasing by 10 per cent to 23,000 tonnes. As a result of the preference for domestic product in the UK for most of the year, which saw some of the leading retailers stock only British beef, Irish exports to the UK fell by 18 per cent to 85,000 tonnes. The decline in our beef exports to the United Kingdom is disappointing and a reversal of that decline is one of the main objectives of the An Bord Bia promotional strategy for 1999. A strong campaign, highlighting the benefits of Irish beef, is being planned by An Bord Bia for later in the year in the UK to take advantage of the lower beef supplies forecast at that time. This in line with the conclusions of the beef task force which recommended that processors and producers should fund a promotion campaign on the French and UK markets.
