Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 8 Apr 2003

Vol. 564 No. 5

Ceisteanna – Questions. - Beef Exports.

Billy Timmins

Question:

1 Mr. Timmins asked the Taoiseach the breakdown, by carcase classification, of beef exported in 2002; the places to which it was exported; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3986/03]

Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Ms Hanafin)

The information requested by the Deputy is presented in tables I will circulate with my reply. Table 1 gives data on beef exports by carcase classification for 2001 and 2002 while table 2 sets out the main destination of these exports for the same period.

Table 1 – Exports of Beef by Carcase Classification

	2001	€(000)	Tonnes	2002	€(000)	Tonnes
Meat of bovine animals, fresh or chilled
Carcases and half carcases	50,510	19,893	63,919	26,446
Other cuts with bone in ‘Compensated' Quarters	4,926	2,111	3,008	1,278
Forequarters	17,318	8,164	13,865	5,907
Hindquarters	55,419	17,061	57,011	17,078
Other	11,029	4,344	13,409	5,451
Boneless	457,798	117,208	589,321	177,891
Total	597,000	168,781	740,533	234,051
Meat of bovine animals, frozen
Carcases and half carcases	25	4	247	52
Other cuts with bone in
‘Compensated' quarters	7	3	701	258
Fore quarters	0	0	39	23
Hind quarters	0	0	23	12
Other	98	35	1,239	713
Boneless
Forequarters	11,004	5,442	23,092	9,793
Crop, chuck and blade and brisket cuts	252	91	109	34
Other	66,337	40,098	98,649	88,997
Total	77,723	45,673	124,099	99,882
Overall Total	674,723	214,454	864,632	333,933

Table 2 – Exports of Carcase Beef by Country of Destination

	2001	€(000)	Tonnes	2002	€(000)	Tonnes
EU Countries
Belgium	32,943	10,123	32,172	8,584
Denmark	10,443	3,404	22,453	8,532
Finland	216	92	190	87
France	37,331	11,448	51,026	16,017
Germany	4,520	650	7,540	2,483
Great Britain	337,543	94,229	377,061	115,823
Italy	38,726	7,823	70,046	15,954
Netherlands	73,413	17,158	87,602	17,921
Northern Ireland	48,930	18,333	61,683	19,802
Portugal	8,956	2,229	10,934	2,830
Spain	10,914	1,507	25,879	4,204
Sweden	7,955	3,466	26,424	11,504
Other EU	69	12	46	26
Total	611,959	170,474	773,056	223,767

	2001	€(000)	Tonnes	2002	€(000)	Tonnes
Non EU Countries
Russia	44,387	32,398	79,850	104,452
Cyprus	3,653	992	3,349	840
Egypt	5,290	3,734	61	50
Indonesia	1,622	1,143	0	0
Malta	1,891	714	2,749	1,354
Mayotte	1,440	1,537	1,346	539
Other Non-EU	4,481	3,462	4,221	2,931
Total	62,764	43,980	91,576	110,166
Overall Total	674,723	214,454	864,632	333,933

Mr. Timmins

I thank the Minister of State for her reply. In view of the severe crisis in the agriculture industry, will she agree with the other Whips to give time for a debate on agriculture? She will be aware that we have a difficulty with regard to the export of beef.

Mr. M. Smith

It is hardly a matter for Question Time.

Mr. Durkan

Arising from the statistical reply that I do not have sight of, will the Minister of State indicate what trends have been established in the information and convey them to the House? What jurisdictions are likely to present the greatest opportunities for further improvements in our exports?

Ms Hanafin

There are a number of different headings for the export of beef. Carcases, half carcases, "compensated" quarters, forequarters, hindquarters and boneless all come under the heading of fresh or chilled meat of bovine animals. Categories such as "compensated" quarters, forequarters, hindquarters, boneless forequarters, crop, chuck and blade and brisket cuts come under the headings of frozen meat of bovine animals. The Deputy will be able to extrapolate trends from the information I will make available to him. I am sure it will be of interest to Members that 214,454 tonnes of beef were exported in 2001 and this increased to 333,933 tonnes in 2002.

Mr. Durkan

I thank the Minister of State for her reply. Given the information made available, can she indicate to the House the most likely markets where expansion will occur in the future?

Ms Hanafin

The information I have circulated is divided into EU and non-EU countries. A quick glance shows that exports to Great Britain increased from 94,229 in 2001 to 115,823 in 2002. Similarly, exports to Russia increased from 32,398 in 2001 to 104,452.

Mr. Timmins

I thank the Minister of State for her reply. The increase in British trade is due to the foot and mouth disease crisis in Britain. Only for this, our beef trade would have collapsed by this stage. Will the Minister of State agree with the other Whips to allot time to discuss the serious issue of difficulties in agriculture?

Mr. M. Smith

The Deputy is the patron saint of hopeless causes.

An Ceann Comhairle

This does not arise out of Question No. 1. There is no logic one could use to find that this question could arise out of Question No. 1.

Mr. Sargent

I would certainly support Deputy Timmins's request for a debate whether it arises or not. In looking at the classification of beef exports in 2002, it is still the case that this country is 1000% self-sufficient in beef. For every ten animals raised here, nine have to be exported. Is this still the ratio we are talking about? If this is the case, can the Minister of State say if there is a policy initiative to diversify agriculture so we are not as vulnerable to the vagaries of the export market which will, in the current international climate, make it more difficult to predict where our cattle will go in the future?

Ms Hanafin

We export 90% of our agricultural products and that is why we have strict regulations and guidelines in that area. The Minister and Ministers of State are constantly examining ways of diversifying and making the best use of the land we have.

Mr. J. Breen

Will the Minister of State agree a crisis exists in agriculture?

An Ceann Comhairle

To which question is the Deputy speaking?

Mr. J. Breen

In fairness, a Cheann Comhairle, the Minister of State will have to admit a crisis exists in agriculture.

An Ceann Comhairle

That question might be more appropriate to the Minister for Agriculture and Food. The Minister of State is answering statistical questions.

Mr. J. Breen

Please bear with me, a Cheann Comhairle. A new charge has been introduced in agriculture whereby one is charged €1.78 for the envelopes in which headage payments arrive. That is another charge on farmers.

An Ceann Comhairle: I must rule the Deputy out of order. I have already ruled Deputy Timmins out of order. I must be seen to be fair to everybody. I suggest the Deputy tables a question to the Minister for Agriculture and Food.