Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 14 Feb 2002

Vol. 548 No. 4

Written Answers. - Beef Exports.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

109 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the steps he has taken to ensure the continued availability of third country markets for Irish beef; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5218/02]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Mr. Walsh)

It is my policy, and that of the Government, that everything possible is done to ensure that Irish livestock and meat producers have unrestricted access to all of our important markets world wide. No effort is being spared to bring this about.

With regard to third countries, many of which imposed bans on EU beef following the BSE crisis in mainland Europe, efforts at political, diplomat and technical level are continuing to secure the reopening of these important markets. My Department, together with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Bord Bia, has worked intensively to emphasise to the authorities in those markets the guarantees in relation to food safety we can offer to consumers of Irish beef. Particular attention was given to Egypt which had been our largest single market for beef exports. As the Deputy will be aware, this strategy proved successful in regaining access to this significantly important market. We were also successful in reopening the Russian in the aftermath of last year's foot and mouth disease crisis.

Special attention is also being focused on the Gulf region which is a significant market for Irish beef. Last year a senior veterinary official from my Department visited the region to brief the rel evant authorities on our BSE problem. Our ambassador to Saudi Arabia has also kept in very close contact with all the important countries in the region. At present a further visit by a senior delegation from my Department is being arranged and meetings have been sought with the appropriate authorities. Renewed invitations to visit Ireland are also being issued to the authorities in question.

My Department is also in contact with the authorities in South Africa, Algeria and Indonesia with a view to their sending technical delegations to visit Ireland to assess the quality of the controls in place here with regard to livestock and beef production. Last year I visited South Africa for discussions on the reopening of the beef market there. I am confident that in the course of such visits we can satisfactorily demonstrate to the delegations concerned the quality of our product and the effectiveness of the many layers of controls we have in place to protect the consumer.