Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 13 May 1997

Vol. 479 No. 2

Written Answers. - Beef Markets.

Joe Walsh

Ceist:

306 Mr. J. Walsh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when the Russian beef ban was introduced; if he has visited Moscow since the ban was introduced; and the efforts, if any, he has made to have this ban lifted. [12476/97]

Ivor Callely

Ceist:

334 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the name, position and organisation of all persons who travelled with him at his invitation or from any agency under the aegis of his Department in relation to his visit to Egypt in May 1997; the class and cost of airfare, hotel accommodation and all other expenses in respect of each person involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12675/97]

Ivor Callely

Ceist:

359 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the names of all those who accompanied him on his recent visit to Egypt; the name of each person who travelled at the expense of An Bord Bia; and the cost involved to his Department and to An Bord Bia. [12792/97]

John Ellis

Ceist:

361 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the number of cattle which will be taken by Egypt in 1997 as a result of his recent visit; and the conditions which will be applied by Egypt to imports of cattle from Ireland. [12826/97]

John Ellis

Ceist:

362 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he will give details of all his efforts since March 1996 to have the Iranian market reopened to Irish beef; and if he will give a date for the reopening of the market. [12828/97]

John Ellis

Ceist:

363 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he will give details of his efforts to have the Libyan market for live cattle reopened since his visit to Tripoli in 1996; and if he will make a statement on the prospects in the market for 1997. [12829/97]

Joe Walsh

Ceist:

367 Mr. J. Walsh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the precise date for the reopening of the live cattle trade to Egypt. [12836/97]

Brendan Smith

Ceist:

369 Mr. B. Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when the live cattle trade to Egypt will be resumed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12856/97]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Mr. Yates)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 306, 334, 359, 361, 362, 363, 367 and 369 together.

During my visit to Egypt last week, I met the Egyptian President, the Prime Minister, the Minister for Trade and Supply and the Minister for Agriculture. All indicated a political willingness to reopen the Egyptian market to live cattle from Ireland, which I am satisfied would not have been achieved without my visit. I agreed with the Egyptian Minister for Agriculture that arrangements would be made immediately in regard to finalising a Protocol on the technical conditions under which trade could be resumed. In effect these conditions would guarantee that the cattle supplied from Ireland were steers not over 30 months of age. I have already transmitted proposals to Cairo for a memorandum of understanding to cover the trade and I am confident of an early reply. I cannot give a precise date for resumption of the trade; this will depend on how quickly the details of the Protocol can be finalised. Once the market reopens, I would hope that, based on previous levels of exports to that market, supply levels in 1997 will be close to 100,000 head.

As to the details of my recent visit, I was in Egypt at the invitiation of An Bord Bia to participate in the Cairo Agro Food Fair. The ministerial party comprised myself, the Secretary of my Department, the deputy chief veterinary officer, the information officer and my private secretary. The outward journey was undertaken in the Government jet, the return journey at executive class fares on Egypt Air and Aer Lingus. Internal travel within Egypt was arranged either by the Embassy or by An Bord Bia.

The cost of the visit to the Department included airfares, hotel accommodation, travel and subsistence expenses at civil service rates and gifts for the Egyptian Ministers. Given that the visit took place only recently, the precise cost to the Department has not yet been computed but I will let the Deputy have this information as soon as it is available.

An Bord Bia were represented by its chief operations officer, the director international markets and an exhibitions officer. An Bord Bia met the travel and other costs in respect of four journalists. Costs incurred by An Bord Bia in participating in the food fair and in staging a promotion on a major market for Irish beef are a matter for that organisation.

In so far as Libya is concerned, following an undertaking given during my visit to Tripoli, I recently received a technical delegation from Libya who were in Ireland to observe our controls first hand. I understand that they were impressed with the measures we have in place and that they made a favourable report to the authorities in Tripoli. I have written to my opposite number in Libya to impress upon him the need for an early and favourable decision and my office is in regular contact with the authorities there. I hope that trade will resume later in the year.

As regards Iran, since I received an Iranian veterinary delegation in October last, a number of contacts at both political and technical level have been made with the Iranian authorities. I met with an Iranian parliamentary delegation in November and I availed of the opportunity to discuss the current restrictions. In addition there has been very regular contact through the Irish Embassy in Tehran and the Iranian Embassy in this country. The current position is that discussions are continuing with a view to agreeing a mutually acceptable veterinary Protocol.

Trade in beef with Russia is covered by a veterinary Protocol concluded last October. Although under this Protocol, beef from eight Irish counties is currently excluded from the Russian market, supplies continue to flow unimpeded from other countries. Exports to date in 1997 exceeed 21,000 tonnes and quantities in excess of 100,000 tonnes are expected to be delivered in the full year 1997. I am in constant contact with the Russian authorities regarding the operation of these restrictions. A high level delegation from my Department visited Moscow in January and I envisage having further discussions with the Russian authorities on the issue when the Russian Deputy Minister for Agriculture visits Ireland next month.