Seán Power
Question:156 Mr. Power asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the efforts, if any, he has made to find new markets for Irish beef; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3597/00]
Written Answers. - Beef Exports.
Following the BSE crisis, my Department has been involved in direct negotiations with the authorities in those traditionally important markets which had concerns about imports of beef from Ireland. These negotiations, with the assistance of both the Department of Foreign Affairs and Bord Bia, have secured unhindered access for Irish beef to worldwide markets. I am satisfied that the necessary conditions have been secured to enable Irish beef exporters to exploit all available market opportunities.
While there was no ban placed on Irish beef by any EU member state, there was a loss of market share due to an increased consumer preference on some of those markets for their own, domestically produced, beef. The move towards renationalisation within EU markets was one of the issues addressed by the beef task force. Considerable progress to date has been made in regaining these markets. Last year beef exports to EU markets grew by 15%, while exports of young cattle more than doubled to over 320,000 head. It remains one of the major priorities for the Irish beef industry to further recover and consolidate its presence on EU markets. In that context I have visited Italy, France and the Netherlands in the past couple of weeks specifically to promote the consumption of Irish beef in those markets.