Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 December 2021
694. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which his Department has reviewed the future prospects for the Irish beef sector with particular reference to market penetration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60487/21]
View answerOur world-class beef sector is a key cornerstone of our overall €14bn export agrifood sector. Beef worth over €2.3 billion, or 524,530 tonnes, was exported in 2020, down slightly in both value and volume on 2019. This is a solid performance especially given the fact much of the global food service sector was shut due to COVID-19 for large parts of 2020.
The largest destination for beef exports (46%) was the United Kingdom. 44% of beef products were exported to countries within the EU, with France, Netherlands, Italy and Germany the largest destinations. The remaining 10% by value went to 55 countries around the globe.
Currently, the average R3 steer price is 16% above the same period in 2020 at €4.16/Kg.
Year-to-date slaughter figures are 4.5% behind the same period last year with a total of 1.5 million head slaughtered so far this year.
In line with our overall strategy for the agrifood sector, securing market access and diversifying trade remains a key aim for my Department, which is prioritising work on retaining and enhancing existing market access, and expanding beef market access to new destinations.
Additionally, Ireland's negligible risk status for BSE confers an advantage in terms of advancing our priority objective of market diversification and enhancement of existing markets.
