Jim O'Keeffe
Ceist:66 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when he expects markets to be open again for the export of live cattle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13934/01]
Priority Questions. - Other Questions. Beef Exports.
Some legal restrictions on exports of live cattle within the EU were lifted on 19 April in respect of Ireland and on 30 April in respect of the 10 kilometre exclusion zone in County Louth. There are other issues relating to the transport of animals through member states and to the specific guarantees required by importing veterinary authorities which remain to be resolved. With regard to livestock exports to third countries, while the import requirements are a matter strictly for the country in question, the situation generally is subject to OIE guidelines. These stipulate, as a minimum, a three month period free of foot and mouth disease before disease free status can be restored. Assuming that no further outbreaks occur in Ireland, we will recover our disease free OIE status on 22 June next. My Department is in contact with our various markets with a view to the earliest possible resumption of the live trade.
Would the Minister accept that our farmers have come through a dreadful period from an income point of view, first, with the BSE scare and the closing of markets as a consequence, which was compounded by the foot and mouth disease crisis? Would he agree that it is absolutely essential that the live markets be available for Irish farmers, particularly coming up to the autumn, and that unless those markets are open it is probable that the disaster will continue, as far as income is concerned?
I agree that the country generally has come through a difficult time and has emerged well from it. Citizens and farmers made a tremendous contribution to containing the disease. No doubt there was a great deal of inconvenience and some farmers were virtually locked-up for that past three months, but prices generally were maintained.
I also agree with the Deputy that there is a considerable worry over the destination of exports, particularly after the summer period when cattle traditionally come off grass. I am making every possible effort, not only in the EU but in our important third country markets, to make sure there is a market for the considerable numbers of cattle, which includes a backlog of cattle which has mounted up over the past three months because of the lack of outlets for them.
Would the Minister accept that it is essential to have markets such as Egypt open if there is to be any major outlet available for live cattle in the autumn?
Yes. Egypt is our single most important international market. We have put considerable effort into building up that market and keeping open the supply lines there. That market was closed because of the foot and mouth disease crisis, and prior to that, because of BSE. In recent weeks a senior official of the Department and a senior veterinary officer visited Cairo and gave various assurances regarding animal diseases, both BSE and foot and mouth disease. It was also agreed that an Egyptian technical delegation would come to Ireland next month. I hope, all going well, we get this market opened but I am not in a position to say that until we get final clearance from the Egyptian authorities.
I compliment the Minister. We know what he has done in the past, particularly for the live trade, and I am sure that he will do it again. It is more important than ever that the live trade be opened.
Having spoken to people in the trade, I have been led to believe that Israel is a market which could be reopened. Has diplomatic contact been made with Israel regarding opening up the trade there?
As there are a number of Deputies offering, I will take all the questions together and then ask the Minister to reply.
Would the Minister agree that if we are unable to secure significant outlets for beef in Europe and third countries, in the autumn we will be left dependent upon the intervention mechanism, where prices could be 73p or 74p per pound? That would be a disastrous signal for the beef industry, would it not? Would he agree with the chief beef adviser in Teagasc, Mr. Bernard Smith, who has indicated that a failure to secure those third country outlets and to secure fairly strong markets in Europe could lead to a serious situation for beef farmers in the autumn?
Has the Minister had meetings with the live exports or livestock traders' association? They are eager to meet him because, in spite of what he and the farm organisation leaders will say, they claim they were the people who opened up the markets in Spain, France and elsewhere and they want to make sure the regulations allow them back into those markets. Could the Minister meet them at the earliest possible date?
While I appreciate the efforts of my constituency colleague, the Minister for Agri culture, Food and Rural Development, Deputy Walsh, and I know that he is doing his best, I am not too happy that he sent a high-powered delegation to Egypt. The Minister should remember not to put the boy in the master's place. The Minister should take on the task himself. He should go to Egypt and visit Gaddafi in Libya personally, even if he is in a tent in the desert.
The Deputy should go with the Minister.
The Minister has the power and has ample experience of dealing with the Middle East.
In light of events over the past months both here and in the UK, has the Minister any plans to go to potential markets and to clear the air as far as Ireland is concerned? If he does half as good a job as he did on the PR job, then he is the man to send.
Acting Chairman
You may reply to those five questions, Minister.
Israel is an important market and both the Department and An Bord Bia are following that up. Deputy Penrose is correct in relation to intervention. I have been talking to Commissioner Fischler about our anxieties for the autumn. I explained to him that only France and Ireland have availed of the destruct scheme. Were it not for the destruct scheme, which is a market intervention measure, prices in Ireland would be very low indeed. We are facing the prospect of a reduction from around 90p or 92p per pound to 72p or 74p per pound if we have to rely on intervention. That would not be in our interest or in the EU's interest.
It is some months since I met the livestock traders. I will meet them again when they make an application to me. Before the foot and mouth crisis, we had regularly visited our markets and attended food presentations in Europe and around the world. I have been in Cairo, Beirut and Tripoli on many occasions, and in all the EU markets. I take the point made by Deputy Sheehan that I should go in person more often but, judging by the competition in Allihies and Eyeries last Sunday, I do not wish to be out of Cork South-West for too long.