Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 28 Nov 2002

Vol. 558 No. 3

Written Answers. - Live Exports.

Seymour Crawford

Question:

88 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of cattle exported live for each of the past ten years; the number of these which went to third country markets or European markets on the same basis; if he has satisfied himself that every effort is being made to retain and re-introduce live exports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24192/02]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

The information requested by the Deputy is provided in the following table:

Year	Northern Ireland	EU	Third Countries	Total
2001	48,643	40,157	11,657	100,457
2000	27,023	313,011	66,245	406,279
1999	16,755	322,998	75,458	415,211
1998	6,137	146,756	24,428	177,321
1997	26,965	24,946	7,430	59,341
1996	9,635	45,995	140,721	196,351
1995	18,449	95,282	263,953	377,684
1994	18,688	111,490	276,200	406,378
1993	38,070	108,317	234,876	381,263
1992	59,897	74,193	51,450	185,540
1991	84,686	37,972	15,307	137,965

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 continuing since that market reopened to us following the lifting of foot and mouth disease 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 signed with Libya in so far as it relates to cattle exports is fully implemented.

Regarding live cattle exports to Egypt, proposals for a trial shipment of live cattle were submitted to the Egyptian authorities in 1997 but these were not implemented. The lack of a market for live cattle exports to Egypt was, 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 re-opened to Ireland following intensive efforts throughout last year.