Ceist:
51 Mr. Coveney asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the tangible progress, if any, which has been made to reopen live cattle exports to Egypt and other Middle East markets following his recent visit to Cairo. [19477/97]
Written Answers. - Live Cattle Trade.
As a result of my meetings in September with the Egyptian Deputy Premier and Ministers for Agriculture and for Supply, the Egyptian authorities agreed to consider accepting a trial shipment of cattle from Ireland. The formulation of a proposal which would allay the concerns of the Egyptian authorities, necessitated a veterinary and engineering assessment of quarantine and slaughtering facilities in Egypt. This was completed two weeks ago and a detailed proposal drawn up by my Department in conjunction with the Irish Livestock Exporters Association is now being forwarded to the Egyptian authorities.
Every effort will be made to obtain an early decision on the proposal to allow the trial shipment take place before the end of the year. This is, I believe, the best way to achieve a full reopening of the market.
In the case of Lebanon, health certification conditions for the export of male animals has now been agreed with the Lebanese authorities and I am pleased to be able to report that exports will recommence in the very near future.
As regards Libya, the Minister of State, Deputy O'Keeffe, met the Libyan Minister for Agriculture last week in Rome and discussed the lifting of the ban imposed in March 1996 on live cattle imports from Ireland. We will continue to avail of every opportunity to seek to have the ban lifted. I have also made it clear that I am prepared to travel to Libya as soon as appropriate arrangements can be made.