Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of sheep that were imported through the port of Larne in Northern Ireland in 2011 and to date in 2012 and transferred directly to meat plants here for slaughter on a weekly basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48247/12]

Shane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for asking the specific question because I ask myself in the same question five mornings a week as when one drives up to the lights at Slane, one sees loads of lamb coming down from Northern Ireland to our factories. However, the direct answer to the Deputy's question is "No". There are figures available to back this up and the single most important point is that it is not viable for lambs to be brought from England or from Scotland directly down through Northern Ireland to the factories here, because the price difference is only €1.20 per lamb. Moreover, when compared with the figures from this time last year, the figures for this year's kill indicate that 65,000 fewer lambs came down from Northern Ireland than was the case last year. In addition, there has been an increase of 7% in overall production here in the lamb trade due to the good prices. While one is disappointed that the price of lamb has not held up when compared with last year, it remains a lot better than was the case in the previous two years.

Our records show that no sheep were imported through Larne for direct slaughter in Ireland during the period in question. The Northern Ireland authorities have also confirmed that no such imports have occurred. Sheep slaughtering in Ireland for the year to date has increased by 10% or more than 182,300 head, to a maximum total of approximately 1.95 million. Throughout 2012, a higher demand from both the domestic and export markets was evenly matched with supplies, particularly during the peak periods of hogget and new season lamb supply. When compared with the highs of 2011, this year’s average price of €4.71 per kilogram is marginally back by 10 cent per kilogram on last year's price. However, in an overall context, Irish sheep prices have performed consistently well throughout 2012 and are well above 2009 and 2010 prices.

The June sheep census results published by the Central Statistics Office in October indicate that total sheep numbers in Ireland increased by as much as 7% compared with a year earlier, reflecting renewed producer confidence in the sector as a result of firm lamb prices since 2010. The breeding flock had increased by 6%, year on year and the number of ewes under two years of age had increased by 12%, suggesting that further flock rebuilding is likely, which in turn may increase the supply of lambs on the market here. Other sheep numbers, which mainly consist of lambs from the 2012 crop, showed an increase of 7% when compared with June last year.

Additional information not given on floor of the House.

Lamb production in 2012 as a whole will be higher than last year and the census figures indicate that a further increase is possible in 2013.

On a positive note, sheepmeat exports to international markets almost doubled to 600 tonnes during the course of 2011. This generates a great confidence boost for Irish exporters. While almost 99% of our lamb exports are to the European Union, it is always beneficial to have a wide range of outlets available and to this end my Department, together with Bord Bia and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, continues to work to secure access to more third-country outlets for Irish lamb. I announced the opening of the Singaporean and South African markets to Irish lamb over the summer. There is strong demand for all meats globally at present and my Department and I remain committed in our efforts to ensure that the Irish sheep sector is able to take full advantage of all of the opportunities that will arise as a result of this demand.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I accept what the Minister of State has said about prices for lowland sheep and lambs. Does he accept there is a crisis in the hill lamb market, that the traditional markets for light lambs do not appear to be open, obviously owing to the bad weather, and that there are very few store buyers in the market? Can the Department take action to deal with the issue with a view to getting a floor price for mountain lamb, although it is getting late in the season? Given that efforts have been made to open up the Libyan market to live exports, perhaps the Minister of State will give an update on those efforts and what is delaying the opening of that market? Is there anything more the Department can do to facilitate the opening of the Libyan market?

Shane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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During our trip to Westport I met the Galway, Roscommon and Mayo sheep farmers who are under pressure in respect of their store lambs because the people in my area are not buying them owing to a lack of grass. I encouraged them to take a leap of faith and put them inside because even though fodder and meal is dear, they may get a turn out of it, so to speak. I spoke today to a man who took in 165 lambs last year and offered not be paid for a couple of months. He cannot do that this year as he does not have the fodder.

I met the Connemara hill farmers group nine months ago. It has taken on a man through the JobBridge scheme to find markets for the lighter lamb referred to by the Deputy. At the sheep open day in Tuam, that group was actively seeking lighter lambs in the Deputy's constituency and in other areas in the west. Those are the people we will support through Bord Bia and through some of the supermarket chains in the Deputy's constituency which have taken in the lighter lamb. There is a problem with Portugal and Spain. The Connemara hill lamb producers is a great group, however, and I have no doubt hundreds of farmers will join them as lamb numbers increase.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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My first job as co-op manager in Cornamona was to build a large sheep shed and put 2,000 sheep in it. We proved that the economics of feeding grass meal to sheep is not hugely profitable with the pure breed of mountain sheep. It would work much better with cross-bred sheep from the lower hills.

I agree with the Minister of State on the work being done by my successors in respect of Connemara hill lamb, but there is still a significant problem in selling plain mountain lamb on the market. Something must be done about it urgently. I urge the Minster of State to do whatever he can to allow this trade to continue in operation. This has been a challenge for the past 30 years. We must ascertain if there are other ways of ensuring the sustainability both of farming mountain sheep and of the market for it, because it appears the latter is up one year and down the next year. The market is volatile and that is a feature of it that has not changed in all the years I have been dealing with it.

I note what the Minister of State said about Portugal and Spain. I used to export sheep to Italy. I recall flying them live by jet to Italy in the late 1970s. I did not get an answer to my question on the Libyan market.

Shane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I am aware from the Minister that negotiations are taking place, and perhaps he will elaborate on that. In regard to the Libyan market, efforts have been made in recent months to open the live trade for the Friesian bull. Sheep are included in that. There must be suitable ships for exporting live animals, however, and the issue is being worked on and is close to a conclusion.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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May I make a comment?

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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We are over time.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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We have been working with exporters who are considering the possibility of taking beef and, potentially, sheepmeat out of either Cork or Waterford. However, there is an issue in respect of accessing boats at an affordable price.

The Department's job is to ensure appropriate veterinary standards for those shipments. Two companies with a track record of live exports are actively seeking to export in the next six weeks.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I submitted two questions, but I received a terse, one-line answer. Will the Minister provide me with a briefing on how the issue stands?

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Yes.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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We must make some progress.