Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:183 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development his plans for the expansion of beef exports in 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28651/00]
Written Answers. - Beef Exports.
I am always concerned to ensure that Irish beef exporters have unrestricted access to worldwide markets for their product. In 1999 some 641,000 tonnes, carcass weight equivalent, of Irish beef were exported and this represented an increase of over 26% on the 1998 level of exports and of over 35% on the 1997 level.
In the light of the current BSE difficulty, I am particularly concerned to ensure that this level of access to markets is maintained. In that regard, both I and officials of my Department are in contact with those markets which have expressed concern about the safety of European beef to assure them that the levels of BSE controls in place in Ireland offer the maximum possible guarantees to consumers of Irish beef.