Ireland does not have access for beef or sheepmeat to Iran at present and therefore does not export any meats to Iran. My Department has been in contact with the Iranian authorities, through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, in furtherance of our continuing efforts to gain access to the Iranian market for Irish beef and sheepmeat. In particular we have been engaged with official veterinarians from Iran to demonstrate the quality and safety of our control systems. We would hope to reach an agreement with the Iranian authorities on a bilateral basis in due course.
The Government plans to maintain diplomatic relations with Iran through the appointment of a non-resident Ambassador. It is proposed to accredit an Ambassador in the region as Ambassador to Iran and the Government is in the process of seeking the agreement of the Iranian authorities to this arrangement.