Austin Deasy
Question:111 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the situation with regard to exports of live animals to Libya and beef to Iran. [25125/01]
Written Answers. - Live Exports.
An agreement signed with Libya in June of last year 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 submitted bids at that time. Efforts at diplomatic and technical level are continuing to ensure that the agreement – in so far as it relates to cattle exports – signed with Libya last year is fully implemented.
Although the Iranian market was re-opened in October 1998, there was a delay by the Iranian authorities in approving the veterinary certificate necessary to allow beef exports to Iran to commence. A draft veterinary certificate, prepared on the basis of the agreed protocol, was sent to the Iranian authorities in February 1999. Written confirmation from the Iranian side that the certificate was acceptable was received in April 2000.
Following acceptance of the veterinary certificate by the Iranian authorities, my main concern has been to ensure that Ireland is included in the list of eligible countries invited to bid for Iranian tenders for the supply of beef, thereby allowing Irish exporters to compete for the available business in this market.