Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 January 2021
1155. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his engagements at EU level to ensure that additional beef imports do not enter the Single Market, therefore depressing prices further post Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1525/21]
View answerSubject to meeting the relevant regulatory and control requirements, and where relevant, the payment of tariffs, the import or export of beef is a matter for commercial operators.
The European Commission's medium term outlook shows that the EU as a whole imported 348,000 tonnes of beef in 2020 (down from 386,000 tonnes in 2019); and this figure is projected to grow by 0.6% annually in the period to 2030. Total beef consumption in the EU is estimated at 6.5 million tonnes.
My Department will continue to closely monitor the level of beef imports into the EU as an important factor in the overall supply balance in the EU market.
With regard to imports from the Mercosur bloc in particular, at the Informal (virtual) meeting of Agri-Fish Ministers on 16 November, I took the opportunity to again raise concerns about the very negative impact that the EU-Mercosur agreement could have on Ireland’s beef sector. Ireland’s position in relation to the impact of the Mercosur trade deal on Irish agriculture has been reiterated many times throughout the process, formally and informally, at political and official levels, on our own part and in close cooperation with Member State colleagues.
The inclusion of a significant Tariff Rate Quota for Mercosur beef in the final agreement underlines these economic concerns, and there are also very serious sustainability issues, among others, that need to be adequately addressed.
Following the conclusion of the headline political agreement of 28th June 2019, the Deputy will be aware that a whole-of-government review of the impact on Ireland was announced.
The Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, in collaboration with my Department, commissioned Implement Consulting Group to carry out an Economic and Sustainability Impact Assessment for Ireland. I expect this review to be completed shortly, and it will inform the Government’s position in relation to the ratification of the agreement.
