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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 5 Nov 2002

Vol. 556 No. 3

Written Answers. - Beef Exports.

Billy Timmins

Ceist:

221 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food, further to Question No. 178 of 15 October 2002, the number of important decisions which have been taken in recent weeks to improve access to export markets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19948/02]

The decisions to which I had referred included the decision by the Russian government to lift all restrictions on the six-county BSE ban, which was implemented following contacts between the Irish and Russian authorities and will substantially improve access to that market for Irish beef. In the current year I expect that exports of beef to that market will be of the order of 75,000 tonnes. Additionally, the European Commission decided to increase export refunds by up to 30% for Egypt following my representations to Commissioner Fischler. This new special high rate of export refund will make Irish beef more competitive on the Egyptian market and should help lead to the resumption of trade to a very important traditional market. Intensive efforts are ongoing with the Gulf region, the Philippines and Indonesia to have those markets re-opened to imports of Irish beef.

In mid-October my Department hosted a week-long visit by technical experts from six Gulf states who were invited to Ireland to examine food safety and consumer protection issues in relation to Irish beef. Another decision taken by the Commission at that time was to increase the rate of advance payments of the beef premiums from 60% to 80% in order to improve the cash flow of beef farmers generally and in particular those affected by the poor weather earlier this summer.
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