Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

That is not the case. On a delegation to China, I raised the issue, supported by the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority, with the Chinese authorities. While the Chinese market is very important for us, so is the certification we give, not just to seafood but to all our other food exports. I appreciate the Deputy's point, and the fact the meat is being exported, repackaged and sold on to China is interesting. Our certification process is critical to the offering we make all over the world in respect of all our foodstuffs. We do not want to diminish it in any way and we are not prepared to sign something we cannot stand over regarding the technical requirements the Chinese are imposing on us. We are engaging at a very senior level politically, diplomatically and technically in my Department with the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority and the Marine Institute in an effort to ensure we reopen the market, which is particularly important. It is not for want of engagement at any level, and I hope we can make progress on the matter.

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