Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy is aware, my Department attaches considerable importance to the live export trade and over the years has been very active in facilitating shipments abroad. Live exports serve a dual purpose as a means of satisfying legitimate market demands for live animals and providing alternative market outlets for farmers. I do not accept that the trade in live exports to the UK and Northern Ireland has collapsed. Total live exports to date this year are over 150,000 head, of which 25,000 went to the UK, an increase of some 3,100 head or 14% up on the comparable period in 2013. Out of this figure of 25,000, some 18,400 went to Northern Ireland, which is an increase of 6% on the same period in 2013.

However, the potential to grow the live trade to the UK is constrained by the buying specifications operated by the British retail chains in respect of cattle born in this country and exported live for finishing and processing in that market. The retailers' long-standing policy is to market British and Irish beef separately. This means that beef must be sourced from animals originating in one country, that is, born, reared and slaughtered in the same country. In addition, logistical difficulties arise when a small number of Irish-born animals are slaughtered in a UK meat plant. Under mandatory EU labelling rules, these carcasses have to be deboned in a separate batch, packaged and labelled accordingly, thereby incurring additional costs for the processor.

Bord Bia has repeatedly raised this issue with British retailers over the years but they are unlikely to reverse their marketing policy in the short term. Nevertheless, Bord Bia in its ongoing interactions with British customers will continue to pursue all opportunities to maximise the full potential of the beef and livestock trade with our largest trading partner. In addition, Bord Bia actively supports the development of the live export trade through the provision of market information, developing market access and promotional activity. There is ongoing dialogue with my Northern counterpart, Michelle O'Neill, and I assure the House that every time we meet her, which is quite regularly, this issue is raised and worked on in order to reach a satisfactory conclusion.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House

It has been agreed at ministerial level to submit another application to the EU Commission for an all-Ireland protected geographical indication, PGI, for Irish beef. The GI scheme originates from the concept of local regional food rather than national reputation. The unique quality of the produce is derived from the geographical area and therefore it is considered that this would usually imply a local "terroir". An application for Irish beef, Ireland only, was lodged previously under an older version of the GI regulation which allowed for the use of a member state's name only in exceptional circumstances. Following an unfavourable response from the Commission, the application was withdrawn.

The Commission had concerns about different aspects of the application but under the regulation in force at that time, use of a country name was only allowed in exceptional cases and the Commission did not consider that the application met this requirement. While the current regulation does allow for the use of a country name, in practice, this has not been done so far. To obtain a GI for all Irish beef would be very challenging. We would have to demonstrate that the same characteristics country wide in terms of geographical or human factors are the causal link in creating this one unique product.

An obvious issue would be beef from Northern Ireland and how similar or different the geographical or human factors are for this beef. It is possible to have GI registration for a product that crosses different legal jurisdictions but the product has to be the same product produced in the same way and whose uniqueness can be shown to be causally linked to the geographical area. Furthermore, the origin labelling requirements are causing difficulties for a country-wide approach. GI names are protected and other products cannot use their names or imply they are like them. However, under labelling rules, beef must be labelled with the member state of origin. The Commission has concerns that there would be a contradiction between these requirements.

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