Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

That is a very reasonable question. There are difficulties in the beef market, particularly in the case of bull beef. We need to consider and are considering alternative outlets for farmers to try to ensure they get full value for their animals. I am aware of the difficulties being experienced in the beef sector by farmers with regard to certain categories of animals. However, exports of live cattle were up by some 25% in 2013 and from the start of this year to 9 March, the total live export figure stood at 41,943. Indications from live animal exporters are that the higher level of live exports will continue. Live export volumes were further boosted by a recent shipment of 2,500 bulls to Libya. The medium-term effect of the increased live exports will be a reduction in the availability of cattle for slaughtering later in the year and into next year and this should result in higher cattle prices for farmers.

Since my appointment as Minister, I have been very active in developing relationships in new and expanding international markets for dairy, beef and lamb products, with a view to raising the profile of Ireland and increasing international confidence in Irish production and control systems. My aim is to provide a platform for long-term trading relationships in these sectors, particularly in new and emerging markets to which I have led trade missions, including China, the United States, Japan, Algeria and the Gulf states in the Middle East. Moreover, there is ongoing close collaboration between my Department, Bord Bia and Irish embassies on improving market access and these initiatives have led to a number of notable successes in securing access to Irish beef from authorities in Japan, Singapore, Egypt and Iran. As recently as January, Lebanon agreed to reopen its market to Irish beef, sheepmeat and cooked meats. We are making very good progress in gaining access to the US market which will be very valuable. There is a formal working group, including the Chinese authorities, with a view to trying to gain access to the Chinese market. This work will take a little time. A considerable effort is rightly being made in my Department to try to seek new outlets for Irish meat. Let us not forget that as we export nearly 90% of all beef we produce, we must constantly find and develop new markets, including markets for live exports, particularly at a time when there is clearly an oversupply of a certain category of beef, namely, bull beef, in Ireland. That oversupply will last only for another couple of weeks, after which I hope we will see a normalisation of prices.

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With regard to the live cattle export trade, I am very conscious that this trade, whether to other EU member states or third countries, serves a dual purpose in stimulating price competition for domestic cattle and satisfying a real demand in overseas markets for specific types of animal. It thus complements the processing beef trade by providing alternative market outlets, thereby underpinning the meat and livestock industry generally.

My Department, in co-operation with Bord Bia and Irish embassies, will continue to support actively the development of both the live export trade and beef trade through the provision of market information, developing market access and promotional activity.

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