Vol. 527 No. 3
89 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when the Libyan live cattle market will open up; the number of cattle they will take in 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25493/00]
Despite a number of agreements signed with Libya in recent years, the live cattle trade has not been resumed. The most recent agreement signed in Tripoli last June provided that Ireland would be officially listed as a source country for all Libyan tenders for the supply of live cattle. Since then, however, the Libyan Foreign Minister indicated that it had not been possible to import live cattle because of what he called logistical problems and that Libya would buy beef directly. Libya subsequently issued tenders for the supply of beef and Ireland was included in the list of countries invited to tender. I understand that a number of Irish companies have submitted bids recently.
