Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:246 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the areas in relation to lamb exports which show the best prospects for expansion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18789/98]
Written Answers. - Lamb Exports.
Ireland exports approximately 70 per cent of all the sheepmeat produced in the country. France has been and will continue to be the main market for Irish lamb. Over the past two years, the level of lamb consumption in France has been stagnant and there is increasing competition on the French market from the UK and New Zealand. However, preliminary 1998 trade returns show Irish exports of lamb to France have increased by 8 per cent over 1997 levels. This is a very creditable performance in difficult circumstances.
Demand for lamb in Germany has expanded rapidly since the beginning of this decade. Germany produces less than half of its own lamb requirements and Ireland has secured a satisfactory market share against increasingly difficult competition from New Zealand. The southern EU member states, especially Italy and Portugal, which are net importers of sheepmeat, and Spain which has a high per capita consumption have been lucrative, if somewhat volatile outlets for lamb in the past and are likely to continue to be so in the future.
In view of the increasingly stiff competition on all lamb export markets, it is evident that Irish exporters will be able to maintain or improve their market share only if greater attention is devoted to the production of high quality sheepmeat. I believe that the introduction of a lamb carcase classification scheme on a voluntary basis across all exporting plants from the end of this year is a prerequisite to achieving this objective.