John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 19: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food her views on the efforts to promote trade in Irish beef to date in 2005. [38302/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Beef production is extremely valuable to the Irish economy with a €1.4 billion export value representing almost 25% of total Irish agri-food exports. Most of our beef exports to date this year have been to EU markets. EU consumption is predicted to again outstrip production in 2005 with a resulting import gap of an estimated 370,000 tonnes for the year. This will provide opportunities for our beef exports in the high value continental EU markets.

Our aim is to consolidate our position in the EU market and in this regard, last September I launched the Bord Bia Irish Beef in Europe campaign which is aimed at building sales of Irish beef in European supermarkets and to establish 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. I also participated in one of the on-site supermarket promotions in Italy in October. Initial feedback is already encouraging in terms of improved demand in response to the promotion. This promotional work by Bord Bia coupled with the marketing effort of the industry will be continued in order to build further sustainable market share in Europe which is where the future long-term success of the Irish beef industry lies.

Regarding third country trade, my Department in co-operation with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Bord Bia, continues to make every effort to increase the number of markets for Irish beef. Russia, Algeria and Egypt are important markets for our beef while the Lebanon is an importer of live cattle. A delegation from my Department and Bord Bia visited Egypt in August this year to finalise negotiations in this area with the Egyptian authorities. This resulted in the signing of a new protocol on animal health matters to improve the conditions under which exports to that country can take place. To date 1,900 tonnes of beef have been shipped to this destination under the new arrangements. Similar work is ongoing in relation to potential opportunities for trade with countries in the Gulf states, South Africa, Indonesia, the Philippines and other potential markets in which there are restrictions on Irish and EU beef due to BSE.

I am committed to having the maximum number of international markets available to Irish beef and my Department will continue to work closely with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Bord Bia to achieve that aim.