The task of recovering export markets is based very much on a restoration of confidence in the safety of our product based on a full appreciation of the low level of BSE in Ireland, the way in which it is dealt with and the effectiveness of the many layers of controls and checks that are in place. In many cases, particularly in non-EU countries, the situation has been exacerbated by media reporting on BSE and, in particular, on BSE developments in those countries which have recently encountered their first cases. While the factors which precipitated the current crisis have been entirely outside of our control, I and my officials, along with An Bord Bia, will continue to explore every avenue in regard to the re-opening of these markets to Irish beef.
Egypt, which is our most important market, purchased some 157,000 tonnes of Irish beef in 1999 and some 113,000 tonnes in the January to September last year. I and senior officials of my Department travelled to Egypt last December and met the Egyptian authorities in Cairo in a effort to secure restoration of this market for Irish beef. The Taoiseach also spoke by telephone with Egyptian President Mubarak on this matter. Senior officials of my Department returned to Egypt this week to continue discussions on a technical level. With regard to Saudi Arabia, a senior official of my Department travelled to Saudi Arabia earlier this month to brief the Saudi authorities on the BSE situation and the level of controls in place in Ireland.