Vol. 521 No. 6
85 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the current number of overseas locations to which lamb has been exported over the past five years; the number of such markets gained or lost in that period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17858/00]
Irish lamb is currently exported to approximately 17 countries, including all 15 EU member states. France remains the single biggest market by far taking 70% of total exports. There has been little change in this figure over the past five years. Exports to other markets, including Germany and Belgium, have increased slightly over the same period. No markets have been lost. Volumes of lamb sold outside the EU are extremely small due to the fact that the EU is a deficit area for sheepmeat and export refunds are not payable thus making third country exports uneconomic under current market circumstances.
