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Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 March 2019

Tuesday, 12 March 2019

Questions (515)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

515. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of cattle and calves exported by country in the 2010 to 2018 period; the figures for 2019 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12428/19]

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Written answers

Live exports are a critical part of the infrastructure of our livestock industry. They play a significant role in stimulating price competition and provide an alternative market outlet for farmers. My Department facilitates this trade, recognising its critical importance to the agri-sector, while ensuring that live animal exports meet the highest welfare standards. I continue to prioritise efforts to gain access to new third country markets and, equally importantly, to deepen existing markets for live exports.

My decision in 2017 to reduce the veterinary inspection fee payable on live exports of calves less than three months of age from €4.80 to €1.20 has brought greater equity to the inspection fee regime. Since then there has been continued growth in the export of calves, rising from 102,000 in 2017 to 159,000 in 2018. It should be noted that the reduction of live exports in Northern Ireland over the last decade is linked to the demands by the UK multiples under the beef labelling rules.

In 2018 live exports of cattle increased by over 30% to 246,000 head compared to 2017. The following are tables with figures for exports of cattle and calves from 2010 to 2019.

Live exports of cattle (including calves) 2010 to 2019

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

Belgium

33,600

26,200

8,300

19,500

21,700

France

3,100

1,000

200

7,000

5,300

GB

8,600

7,600

11,500

11,300

18,100

Greece

1,300

1,700

2,500

1,600

1,300

Hungary

400

1,000

1,100

100

100

Italy

70,800

53,700

37,900

26,000

30,000

Libya

0

0

0

14,500

17,700

Morocco

2,700

2,100

2,300

1,400

800

Netherlands

61,900

34,500

15,000

31,500

38,200

Northern Ireland

95,100

59,400

62,600

54,600

54,400

Poland

0

0

0

0

0

Romania

0

100

200

400

200

Slovakia

0

0

0

0

0

Spain

60,700

25,100

15,400

36,800

44,300

Tunisia

0

200

1,300

2,900

3,700

Turkey

0

0

0

0

0

Total *

339,000

214,500

160,400

208,900

236,800

Table ctd.

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

Belgium

600

400

5,500

13,500

900

France

8,600

5,900

2,800

9,100

0

GB

9,100

6,600

5,900

5,500

400

Greece

700

1,500

1,000

1,600

500

Hungary

100

400

100

200

100

Italy

24,900

18,600

19,400

24,100

3,100

Libya

400

2,200

1,800

5,500

0

Morocco

300

200

0

700

0

Netherlands

43,700

27,000

41,800

48,900

9,900

Northern Ireland

55,300

24,500

26,100

24,600

4,400

Poland

0

0

0

2,700

1,400

Romania

300

600

1,400

800

0

Slovakia

0

500

300

1,800

0

Spain

29,600

37,000

50,500

92,500

11,100

Tunisia

3,900

0

0

200

200

Turkey

0

19,300

30,600

12,900

0

Total *

178,000

145,200

188,300

246,200

32,000

Live exports of calves 2010 to 2019

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

Belgium

33,300

26,200

8,300

19,200

20,100

France

3,000

900

100

6,700

5,000

Netherlands

61,700

34,400

14,900

31,400

34,200

Northern Ireland

12,000

1,400

800

700

2,000

Italy

11,700

5,200

1,200

1,400

2,000

Spain

36,300

20,000

13,000

31,200

38,200

Total *

159,000

88,100

38,300

90,700

101,600

Table ctd.

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

Belgium

0

0

4,200

13,300

900

France

8,300

5,600

2,400

8,500

0

Netherlands

43,400

26,600

41,400

48,600

8,700

Northern Ireland

2,000

1,100

1,200

2,100

100

Italy

4,100

6,800

8,400

12,700

1,300

Spain

27,400

32,600

44,000

73,000

7,900

Total *

85,500

72,700

101,600

158,800

19,900

* Countries with smaller numbers of exports are not listed on tables but are included in totals.

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