Vol. 490 No. 1
9 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the intentions, if any, he has regarding the preparation of a comprehensive programme to enhance the status of Irish beef and beef products at home and abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9427/98]
14 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the date for the publication of the specially commissioned report by Bord Bia on the marketing of Irish beef; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9430/98]
At my request Bord Bia has prepared a new marketing strategy for beef. The main objective of the strategy is the re-establishment of Irish beef in the markets of the European Union, many of which had become renationalised in recent years. I received a copy of the new beef marketing strategy document in draft form from Bord Bia on 1 April. The document is currently under discussion between my Department, Bord Bia and the trade. It will be published in due course.
When will the cattle traceability system be introduced? Has the Minister run into a brick wall in that regard? Is that why people are not inclined to buy our live cattle? A traceability system would be a good marketing tool.
That is a different question, but I will assist the Deputy. It is hoped the beef insurance scheme, which will come before the Government before the summer recess, will establish standards for the industry.
The standards will involve farmers, marts, dealers, agents, abattoirs and anyone dealing with cattle. The draft proposals are with the industry for final comment.
The Minister should give us a chance as we are interested in live cattle and presume he is also.
The carcase beef trade is better than the live one. The Deputy should do his sums.
What was it like for the first two weeks of the year when some farmers almost went bankrupt?
We know who bankrupted the farmers.
This calls the Minister of State's commitment into question.
Already there are many animal traceability measures in place, which include tagging, passports, calf birth registration which the Minister launched in Bandon recently and animal location files which are the basis of the entire process. We have an estimated ten million cattle movements from marts, meat factories, live export points and abattoirs, which is huge by European standards. It is expected the system will be in place by late summer.
When is late summer?
The end of July.
Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.
