Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 208: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the amount of beef which has been exported to Russia in each of the past five years and to date; if she is satisfied that farmers here are getting a realistic payment for their high quality beef production; her plans to further access the Egyptian market; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26312/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The amount of beef exported to Russia in the past five years and to date is as follows:

The same period has seen a substantial increase in beef exports to EU markets. In 2001, we exported 72,000 tonnes to the continental EU and only two retailers stocked Irish beef. By last year, exports had more than doubled to 174,000 tonnes and over 30 retail groups in that valuable market stock Irish beef. The beef industry is worth €1.4 billion in foreign earnings to the Irish economy annually.

Following considerable work with regard to the Egyptian market, significant progress was made with the signing in August of a new protocol on veterinary and animal heath conditions to apply to our beef exports to Egypt. The protocol considerably eases the restrictions on trade which previously existed and a revised veterinary certificate which reflects this has been agreed. I anticipate that these developments, which effectively reduce the costs associated with beef exports to that destination, allied to the special attractive export refund for Egypt, should enhance trade prospects this autumn.

The usual seasonal drop in beef prices has occurred this autumn, although earlier and greater than in previous years. However, because of the higher prices paid in the earlier part of the year, the average price since the start of 2005 to date is 4% above that paid during the same period in 2004. It is estimated that overall, average cattle prices for 2005 will be 3% up on last year.