Vol. 500 No. 5
30 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress, if any, made in reopening beef trade with Iran, following his recent visit and meeting with his Iranian counterparts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4438/99]
I visited Iran from 25 to 28 January this year. The purpose of my visit was to co-chair the third session of the Ireland-Iran Joint Economic Commission together with the Iranian Foreign Minister, Dr. Kamal Kharazzi. Discussions covered a wide range of issues, including trade, aviation, education, agriculture, fisheries and investment. The beef trade formed an important part of the discussions.
The background to my discussions on the beef trade was the visit of an Iranian veterinary delegation to Ireland last year, which led to the signing of a veterinary protocol on 29 October last setting out the detailed arrangements for the resumption of trade. During my visit, I had separate meetings with the Ministers responsible for the beef trade, Mr. Mohammad Shariyatmadari, the Minister for Commerce, and Mr. Mohammad Saeedi Kia, the Minister for the Construction Crusade. I also met with representatives of the Irish meat exporting companies while I was in Tehran to brief them on the progress of my discussions.
I can confirm that all technical and regulatory obstacles to the resumption of trade have now been removed. The only exception concerns beef from the areas immediately surrounding confirmed BSE cases. However, Iran has fulfilled its requirements for beef in the period up to March. The next contracts will be considered in April, and I have been assured by my Iranian counterpart that Irish beef will be given every consideration at that time.
