Jim Glennon (Dublin North, Fianna Fail)
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Question 187: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the progress of Irish beef exports to continental Europe in 2005 and her efforts to promote the trade. [34107/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Irish beef industry is worth €1.4 billion in foreign earnings to the national economy annually. Ireland produced 560,000 tonnes of beef in 2004, exporting 495,000 tonnes with domestic consumption at 86,000 tonnes.

We are the number one exporter of beef into Europe where there is a widening gap between consumption and production resulting in an EU import requirement of an estimated 280,000 tonnes this year. Irish companies are major suppliers across Europe and have gained a top class portfolio of retail accounts there. In 2004, we exported 264,000 tonnes to the UK and 174,000 tonnes to continental EU countries which together represents almost 90% of our total beef exports. Based on performance to date in 2005 and current predictions for the remainder of the year, export volumes are expected to be down by 3% overall. However, it is anticipated that a greater proportion of these exports will go into the continental EU market.

Our aim is to consolidate our position in the EU market. Bord Bia is responsible for the promotion of our beef and I take every opportunity to support them in their efforts in this regard. At the beginning of September, I launched the board's "Irish Beef in Europe" autumn promotion campaign which is targeted at building sales of Irish beef in European supermarkets and establishing the "Irish Beef" brand firmly in the minds of consumers. This particular campaign involves on-pack promotions in 8,000 European stores which are frequented by some 40 million shoppers every week. This is certainly a major and sophisticated marketing initiative. I also participated in one of the on-site supermarket promotions in Italy last month. Initial feedback is already encouraging in terms of improved demand in response to the promotion. An increased presence in this high value market is seen as the key to the success of the beef industry in the long term.