Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 March 2004
57 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the steps he proposes to take to prevent a monopoly in the beef processing area in the event of a cessation of live exports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9243/04]
View answer60 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he has plans to boost beef exports in order to compensate for a reduction or cessation in live exports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9246/04]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 57 and 60 together.
It is my policy and that of the Government to ensure that Irish beef and livestock exporters have unrestricted access to all markets worldwide where exporters consider there are commercial possibilities. Every effort will continue to be made at political, diplomatic and technical level to have all potential markets open to Irish exporters.
Last year Irish live cattle exports reached some 220,000 head, an increase of almost 50% on the level of live exports achieved in 2002. The bulk of this growth was to continental EU markets driven by increased demand from Holland, Italy and Spain, which remains the principal destination for Irish cattle. Moreover, exports to the Lebanon were 15% higher last year than in 2002. I have no reason to expect that live exports in 2004 should be any less vibrant.
Clearly there is no shortfall in beef processing capacity in Ireland. The report of the beef task force concluded that there was a weekly slaughtering capacity in export approved beef plants of 75,000 head. Average weekly slaughterings in 2003 were 35,000 head. These figures would suggest that there is healthy competition for cattle supplies.
I am satisfied that there are valuable market outlets for our beef output. It is estimated that EU beef consumption in 2004 will exceed production by 400,000 tonnes. Last year exports to the UK amounted to some 265,000 tonnes representing an increase on the previous year's level. Markets for Irish beef in France, Netherlands, Italy, Germany and Sweden also remain strong. In the course of the past year Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary have lifted their restrictions on Irish beef imports.
With regard to non-EU markets, I am very keen to have existing restrictions, where they remain, removed at the earliest possible date and the most recent initiatives have focused on Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Region. In September 2002 Russia lifted its remaining BSE related restrictions on Irish beef imports. Egypt also re-opened its market and Irish exporters now have the option of trading with that market. As part of the efforts to regain access to the Egyptian market, I negotiated a special export refund of 30% above the normal rate for exports to that destination. In total, exports to international markets reached 85,000 tonnes in 2003.
The focus of the Irish beef industry has been to broaden and expand its market reach at EU retail level, shifting its orientation away from international commodity markets and into the higher priced internal EU market place.
