Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 23 Oct 2001

Vol. 542 No. 5

Written Answers. - Pigmeat Sector.

Dinny McGinley

Question:

153 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the number of pigs exported to Northern Ireland for each of the past four months; the number exported for each of the past six years; if he has satisfied himself that everything possible is being done to guarantee free trade so that pig farmers in the Border counties can have fair opportunity and income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24859/01]

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

During the course of the foot and mouth disease crisis on the island of Ireland, trade in pigs and other susceptible species between Northern Ireland this jurisdiction was prohibited. Trade in live animals, including pigs, between member states of the European Union, is governed by EU legislation requiring, inter alia, that animals must be accompanied by appropriate health certification and must be properly identified. Prior to the foot and mouth crisis, special arrangements were established by bilateral agreement with the Northern Ireland authorities,

which exempted trade in pigs and sheep on the island from the full rigour of normal intra-community trade requirements. Since the resumption of trade in certain live animals between the North and the Republic, and in the context of an animal health crisis which had the potential to do untold long-term damage to the agricultural economy, and indeed to many other sectors of the economy, it has been agreed that in the future normal intra-community rules should apply to trade in live animals.

For the future, therefore, full intra-community trade rules will apply to cross-Border trade in live animals. Within the parameters of those rules, which operate successfully throughout the European Union, my Department will do everything in its power to facilitate the trade in pigs to Northern Ireland.

The number of pigs exported to Northern Ireland in the past four months was as follows:

June 01	July 01	Aug 01	Sept 01
692	1,242	436	1,109

The figure for the export of live pigs to Northern Ireland over the past six years is not readily available. However, the figures for the export of live pigs to the EU, which would include exports to Northern Ireland, and third country markets for the past six years were as follows:

	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000
EUCountries	8,621	5,989	62,391	32,650	3,870	9,860
ThirdCountries	493	20	264	372	307	303
Total	9,114	6,009	62,655	33,022	4,177	10,163