Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 July 2004
138 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of live cattle exported to Egypt in each of the past ten years; the tonnage of meat exported to Egypt for the same period; and if he is satisfied with the trade. [20247/04]
View answerLive cattle and beef exports to Egypt over the past ten years were:
|
Year |
Live Cattle (Head) |
Beef Tonnes |
|
2003 |
0 |
1,000 |
|
2002 |
0 |
0 |
|
2001 |
0 |
0 |
|
2000 |
0 |
150,000 |
|
1999 |
0 |
154,000 |
|
1998 |
0 |
120,000 |
|
1997 |
5,000 |
70,000 |
|
1996 |
106,000 |
40,000 |
|
1995 |
176,000 |
40,000 |
|
1994 |
253,000 |
56,674 |
With regard to live cattle exports to Egypt the position is that a ban exists on all EU live cattle imports. Proposals for a trial shipment of live cattle from Ireland 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 had been, however, more than offset by the volume of trade in beef exports to that country in the period up to 2001. The Egyptian market was re-opened to imports of Irish beef in late 2001 following an intensive political, technical and diplomatic campaign. Resumption of trade in commercial volumes had been hampered by conditions imposed by the Egyptian authorities on the type of cuts eligible for that market. Agreement was reached with the Egyptian authorities last September on the removal of these conditions and on new certification arrangements which now allow for a resumption in trade. An additional export refund of 30% over the normal rate was negotiated by Ireland in relation to trade with Egypt. The extent to which the Egyptian market will take volumes of beef will depend on commercial decisions by exporters, and will have regard not only to the returns available from that market but also to the commercial attractiveness of other markets, including those within the EU where there is currently a very high demand for Irish beef.
