Michael Lowry
Ceist:46 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the plans if any, he has for the disposal of Irish beef when tenders for intervention are not sufficient to cater for a glut of cattle on the Irish market.
Written Answers. - Irish Beef Disposal.
Sales of beef into intervention so far this year have been at considerably lower levels than in recent years because of a number of factors. The Irish beef industry has exploited the increased market opportunities in the European Community and has dramatically increased the quantity of steer beef sales on the commercial market this year compared to recent years. The live exports trade to third countries has resumed this year and this has helped to underpin the market.
As the Deputy may be aware, I succeeded earlier this year, after prolonged negotiations, in securing the reopening of the Iranian market and I am very pleased that contracts for the supply of approximately 16,000 tonnes of boneless beef (i.e. the equivalent of 60,000 head) have been concluded recently for delivery to Iran by the end of the year. I am confident that these contracts, along with other contracts for supply to the Community beef market and other Third Country outlets, will keep the intervention requirement for the remainder of the year at relatively modest levels. In these circumstances, I do not envisage tenders for intervention being insufficient to cater for the numbers of cattle coming on the market this autumn.