Vol. 509 No. 1
149 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he was accompanied on his latest visit to Moscow by representatives of Anglo-Irish Beef Processors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19457/99]
The official delegation which accompanied the Taoiseach on his recent visit to Russia consisted of representatives from the Taoiseach's own Department as well as from the Departments of Foreign Affairs, Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, Enterprise Ireland, An Bord Bia and An Bord Fáilte.
A separate Irish business delegation which was jointly organised by Enterprise Ireland and An Bord Bia, also visited Russia on the same occasion. This delegation included, among others, representatives of five meat export companies, one of which was AIBP Ltd. As the Deputy will be aware the most important Irish export to Russia is beef which reached some £100 million in value before the Russian financial crisis in 1998.
