Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 411: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she is satisfied that all Irish meat exports are competing adequately on world markets; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26774/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 412: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if sufficient emphasis is placed on the marketing of Irish beef, lamb and pigmeat; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26775/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 411 and 412 together.

The marketing of Irish meats is carried out by the industry with support from my Department and Bord Bia. Bord Bia has specific responsibility for the promotion of Irish beef, lamb and pigmeat. That organisation is engaged in a wide range of activities to promote these meats on both foreign and domestic markets. In 2005, these activities include retail promotions of Irish beef across 8,000 stores representing 30 retailers in nine countries, the operation of the Chefs' Irish Beef Club in Britain, France and the Netherlands, the introduction of the quality assurance country of origin mark for beef to Irish retailers, a major trade mission to China led by the Taoiseach in which I also participated and during which I signed a protocol on the export of pigmeat to China, a joint programme with Enterprise Ireland to assist smaller pigmeat processors to develop their capabilities and secure market access in the United Kingdom and the retail promotion of Irish lamb in Ireland and France. In Ireland, the emphasis is on increasing lamb consumption whereas in France the emphasis is on making consumers aware of the availability and quality of Irish lamb.

It is anticipated that exports of Irish beef this year will be slightly lower than last year's at approximately 494,000 tonnes. Beef production is extremely valuable to the Irish economy with a €1.4 billion export value representing almost 25% of total Irish agrifood exports. The majority of beef exports to date have been to the high value United Kingdom and EU markets. EU consumption is predicted to again outstrip production in 2005 with a resulting import gap of an estimated 280,000 tonnes for the year. This will provide further opportunities for our beef exports in the high value continental markets. Ireland is competing on the EU markets with beef imported from low cost South American economies, notably Brazil. The main concern is that Brazil has a capacity to significantly increase its exports, not only to Ireland but also to our main export outlets in Europe and in other third countries, in direct competition with us. The issue is one that continues to be monitored and is being considered in the context of our preparations for the World Trade Organisation talks in Hong Kong in December.

Bord Bia has undertaken an autumn promotion of identified Irish Beef in conjunction with EU retailers and their Irish suppliers. This is being rolled out progressively across nine EU countries over the next two months. Initial feedback is encouraging in terms of improved demand in response to the promotion and it is hoped that we can strengthen the position of Irish beef in the European marketplace. An increased presence in this sophisticated, high value market is the key to the success of the beef industry in the long term.

The value of Irish lamb exports increased by approximately 14% to €165 million in 2004. While the main market is France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Denmark are growing in importance. The Tunisian and Algerian markets were also opened in 2004 and all markets showed increased trade that year. Trade with the United Kingdom increased by some 19% in 2004 while the important French market, which accounts for about two thirds of all lamb exports, increased by approximately 14% despite strong competition from the United Kingdom and New Zealand.

The outlook for Irish pigmeat exports this year looks stable and should be in line with the export figure of 117,000 tonnes for 2004. Just over half of our pigmeat exports go to the United Kingdom with the remainder equally divided between other EU member states and third countries. Poultrymeat export volumes in 2004 realised some 93,000 tonnes and were valued at in excess of €230 million. This figure includes our valuable industry processed products and prepared meats area. The outlook for 2005 is for our markets to remain stable. I am satisfied that the promotion efforts of Bord Bia play an important role both in maintaining our existing markets for beef, lamb and pigmeat and also in developing new ones for the future.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 413: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if all beef, lamb or pigmeat sold here or distributed to retailers complies with her Department's traceability requirements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26776/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department operates a full traceability system for cattle, sheep and pigs. It is also a requirement under the new European food safety legislation, which came into effect at the beginning of this year, that all food businesses must have a traceability system in place. This new legislation places the responsibility for compliance with food safety legislation on the all food business operators along the food chain, that is from the primary producer right through to the final outlet. It requires, among other points, that each such operator must be able to trace and record details of the supplier of the food product to the customer, covering both one step back and one step forward along the food chain.