Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 270: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the amount of beef that has been exported from here to Egypt from May 2002 to 30 September 2005; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29834/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Export refunds were paid in the period from 1 May 2002 to 30 September 2005 in respect of the export of approximately 1,000 tonnes of beef to Egypt. Trade was significantly affected by the special and onerous conditions attached to the export regime by the Egyptian authorities in the period in question. These involved considerable additional costs for the traders with regard to testing, veterinary inspections and so forth.

After considerable work on the Egyptian market I can say that significant progress has been made following the signing last August of a new protocol on veterinary and animal health conditions to be applied to Irish beef exports to Egypt. I anticipate that this development, which effectively reduces the costs associated with beef exports to this destination, along with the higher export refund rate for Egypt, will enhance trade prospects this autumn.

Beef exports to Egypt have only recently resumed and I am delighted that, over the past month, traders have taken out export licences for Egypt amounting to 1,400 tonnes.