Cecilia Keaveney
Question:99 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the position in relation to the live export markets; and if he will make a statement on the effect this market has or should have on prices. [20969/02]
Written Answers. - Live Exports.
There has been a resumption in trade in younger animals to markets in the EU such as Spain and Italy. The trade in finished animals to Lebanon is also continuing since that market reopened to us following the lifting of FMD restrictions.
An agreement signed with Libya in June 2000 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 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 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 Egyptian market for beef has been reopened to Ireland following intensive efforts throughout last year.
The level of cattle prices is determined by the availability of outlets for both live cattle and beef. In this regard the continuing live trade to the Lebanon has been a contributing factor to the level of cattle prices currently obtaining.