Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Wednesday, 12 July 2023
Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Development of the Sheep Sector: Discussion (Resumed)
Mr. Joe Burke:
Some 75% of our lamb goes into EU markets. It tends to vary year on year, but between 15% and 20% of our sheepmeat exports go to the UK each year. However, the UK itself is a significant exporter of lamb, so the Senator's point is a valid one. If the UK is importing more product from New Zealand and Australia, even at competitive prices as it is now, it means it will have more lamb available to export into the continental European market that is taking 75% of our lamb already. That becomes more competitive, potentially, as a knock-on impact of these trade deals. It is something that we need to be mindful of. We need to defend our position in those markets.