Denis Naughten
Ceist:15. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to secure live export markets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34031/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 7 October 2015
Ceisteanna (15)
Freagraí scríofa
Live exports serve a vital purpose as a means of satisfying market demand for live animals and providing essential alternative market outlets for Irish cattle farmers. I have always attached major importance to the live cattle export trade, and my Department, along with Bord Bia, has been extremely proactive during my time as Minister in both encouraging and facilitating shipments abroad and the cross border live trade to Northern Ireland. As the Deputy will be aware, Ireland has in place a good system of transport links to facilitate live exports with the highest standards of animal welfare being at the forefront of procedures for approving transportation options. My Department has approved extra roll-on roll-off ferry capacity for livestock transport in the year to date. There are currently three dedicated vessels, the MV Express 1, the MV Atlantic M and the MV Holstein Express approved for the carriage of livestock by sea from Irish ports. Two roll-on roll-off vessels are approved for transport to the UK, and one to the France. Three other vessels are currently at various stages of the necessary processes for approval for carriage of livestock abroad. The Department always co-operates with live exporters to the fullest extent possible in order to facilitate live exports while ensuring that all vessels meet our high standards required.
Ireland continues to have a strong live export trade to Europe and beyond with over 236,000 head of live cattle worth over €172 million being exported last year. So far in 2015, Ireland has exported live cattle to seventeen different countries and the total figure for live cattle exports stands at just under 150,000 head. Our most important markets this year have been the Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Spain, Italy, Britain and France. The Dutch calf market in particular has seen sharp growth, with almost 44,000 calves sent there so far in just nine months of 2015 as opposed to 39,000 head in the whole of last year. IBR restrictions and geopolitical instability have impeded previously large-scale exports to Belgium and North Africa respectively.
Trade to Northern Ireland has improved sharply, up almost 6,000 head or 17% compared to this time last year , with cattle of beef and dairy dams making up 59% and 41% of the total, respectively. The total figure for the year stands at 40,000 head. It should be noted that the weaker euro has been creating more favourable conditions for live exporters. Currency fluctuations are one of the major factors in determining the relative economic attractiveness of Irish exports to the United Kingdom.
Improved domestic demand and tightening supply have led to a situation where beef producers are receiving a better price than previously at marts. This internal demand explains the overall drop in live exports compared to last year, which have reduced by 25% as of late September. The average price for this year so far is €4.05c/kg for an R3 grade steer excluding VAT. This is over 10% higher than the 2014 average, and is indicative of the generally positive trends that have been present in the beef sector this year.
Staff from my Department and Bord Bia will continue to work tirelessly to find new market outlets for live exports both within Europe and beyond. Ireland has a strong track record in this regard and events outside our control notwithstanding, we can expect to see continuing strong figures in the live trade in future.