Vol. 537 No. 2
159 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the meet ings at technical level that have taken place in the past month between his officials and those from Russia, the Gulf States and South Africa. [15667/01]
The BSE crisis in Europe late last year resulted in the loss of third country markets for exports of Irish beef. The task of recovering those markets was made more difficult by the outbreak of foot and mouth disease earlier this year. Nevertheless, every effort is being made at political, diplomatic and technical levels to regain access to all of our traditionally important markets. As the Deputy will be aware, our efforts with regard to the Russian market have been rewarded with the recent Russian decision to lift their ban on imports of livestock and animal products. Diplomatic pressure is being maintained on an ongoing basis in all our markets and is being backed up as appropriate by high-level technical visits by my Department.
The situation in the various markets is also being monitored by An Bord Bia and there has also been direct contact at veterinary level in regard to a number of markets. The approach to each market is being determined on a case by case basis in conjunction with the advice of An Bord Bia and the Department of Foreign Affairs via its embassies in the countries in question. Efforts with regard to Egypt and the Gulf are ongoing. Technical meetings with the Egyptian veterinary authorities took place in Cairo in December 2000 and in April 2001 and with the Saudi authorities in January 2001. There have also been contacts with the South African authorities.
I am satisfied that the authorities in the countries mentioned have a full appreciation of the level and effectiveness of the BSE controls in place in Ireland. However, ill-informed media reporting on the BSE situation in Europe generally has had an adverse effect on public opinion in those countries and it is clear that a restoration of exports to those markets is linked to an easing of the concerns about the control of BSE in Europe generally. No effort will be spared by the Department or by the other Departments and agencies of the State to ensure that all overseas beef markets are reopened as soon as possible and that every possible opportunity is used to convince importing countries of the safety and quality of Irish beef.
160 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason there was no communication between the Irish agricultural authorities and the Russian agricultural authorities for a period of two weeks when the Russian authorities had requested daily updates from the Government in relation to the foot and mouth disease. [15668/01]
As is now well known, the Russian market for Irish meat and animal products was reopened last Friday with the removal of the import ban imposed as a result of the foot and mouth disease outbreak. The reopening of this important market was achieved following an assessment by the Russian veterinary authorities of foot and mouth disease in Ireland and the manner in which it was handled by my Department. Detailed briefings on the situation were provided on an ongoing basis to the Russian authorities by my Department, the Irish Embassy in Moscow and by An Bord Bia.
