Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 23 Oct 2001

Vol. 542 No. 5

Written Answers. - Live Exports.

Seymour Crawford

Question:

128 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the num ber of live cattle being exported to Egypt, Libya and Lebanon in each of the past ten years; if there are indications that live exports will resume to Libya or Egypt before the end of 2001; the result or standing of the agreement for live exports to Libya that was highlighted in the media some years ago; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24865/01]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Mr. Walsh)

Details of live cattle exports to Egypt, Libya and Lebanon over the past ten years are as follows:

Year	Egypt	Libya	Lebanon
1991	–	–	–
1992	27,842	–	–
1993	171,987	41,525	–
1994	255,643	7,960	–
1995	176,486	81,420	–
1996	107,749	32,972	–
1997	3,298	–	4,132
1998	–	–	24,428
1999	–	–	75,458
2000	–	–	66,245

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.

With regard to live cattle exports to Egypt the position is that proposals for a trial shipment of live cattle were submitted to the Egyptian authorities in late 1997 but these proposals were not implemented. The lack of a market for live cattle exports to Egypt has been, however, more than offset by the volume of trade in beef exports to that country in recent years. The recent decision by the Egyptian authorities to provide for exceptions to the ban on European beef imports for countries which can meet certain conditions in relation to BSE is a welcome development for Irish cattle and beef sectors in view of the fact that these conditions largely reflect the way in which BSE is controlled in this country.