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

I have checked them. In the coming weeks Irish beef will be the first beef from Europe to enter the US market for 16 years.

In terms of the domestic beef sector, I agree with the Deputies that this has been a very difficult year for many beef farmers. However, I do not buy into the view that everybody is now looking at leaving beef production and that no young people are going into farming. In fact, there are more young people trying to get into agricultural colleges than ever before. There is a sense of excitement in terms of the numbers of young people seeking to develop a career in the food industry.

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