Mr. Aidan Cotter:

We do not know what individual operators hold in their feed lots. Everybody is aware that they have animals in those lots but, as far as I am aware, only the operators know the numbers involved.

Imports of Polish beef fell from 1,800 tonnes in 2012 to 450 tonnes last year. Those 450 tonnes primarily took the form of frozen processed beef and it is of a type that could not be used to supply the premium fresh market. There should be little or no opportunity, therefore, for it to be labelled as fresh Irish beef.