Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 22 February 2024
244. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which Irish lamb continues to be a major competitor on world markets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8613/24]
View answerIrish sheepmeat was exported to more than 30 markets last year, which is testament to the world-class product produced on our farms.
Sheep production is a vital source of income for many farmers, particularly in upland areas, and provided the raw material for the export of over 65,000 tonnes of sheepmeat worth €420m last year. The value of sheepmeat exports held relatively stable in 2022 and 2023 following year-on-year growth since 2014.
Approximately 15% of the sheepmeat produced in Ireland is consumed domestically, with the balance being exported.
The EU market remains the primary outlet for Irish sheepmeat, accounting for the bulk of sheepmeat exports in both value and volume terms. Within the single market, France is the largest market and was worth €134m in 2023. Other important EU markets, in order of magnitude, were Germany, Sweden, Netherlands, Belgium and Italy. These six markets combined accounted for almost €300m in exports; equivalent to 71 percent of the total value of sheepmeat exports in 2023 and 66 percent of total volume.
The higher price point of lamb relative to other proteins left it more exposed to the impact of inflationary pressures in many key export markets last year. Nevertheless, lamb benefits from the important religious and cultural role it holds among European consumers which helps to provide some stability in overall consumption.
Underpinning the Food Vision 2030 goal of developing and diversifying market outlets for meat exports are the support measures provided by my Department to improve the competitiveness and productivity of primary producers.
Significant support is made available to the sheep sector under the CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) both through the Sheep Improvement Scheme and through a broad range of CSP interventions for which sheep farmers are eligible such as ACRES, TAMS and the Organic Farming Scheme. Additionally, 2024 will also see the launch of a National Sheep Welfare Scheme worth €15m which will provide an additional €8 per ewe payment to sheep farmers. Details of that scheme are currently being examined by my officials and will be announced in due course.
Bolstered by these supports, Irish sheep farmers can continue to produce a safe, sustainable, high-quality product that is in demand across many global markets.
In that context, I will continue to support sheepmeat exports through targeted supports for producers, trade mission and other activities to expand market access and the funding of Bord Bia marketing campaigns nationally and internationally.
