Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 397: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food her plans for the future development of the beef industry; the export markets where growth is expected; the locations where greater competition is expected; the extent to which imports are expected to affect the domestic market; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24977/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Irish beef exports are now concentrated in the high value UK and Continental markets. This is a result of the combination of the targeting of these markets by exporters, the promotion work carried out by An Bord Bia and the emergence of a significant beef deficit in the EU. The deficit this year is expected to be of the order of 350,000 tonnes, or 5% of EU beef production. In 2005 we exported 487,000 tonnes of beef, all of which went to these markets, except for 35,000 tonnes that went to 3rd Country markets. This is in contrast with 1999 when our exports to 3rd Country markets amounted to 309,000 tonnes out of total exports of 554,000 tonnes. There continues to be strong demand for Irish beef in the UK, our principal market, taking almost 50% of our beef. We also have a considerable level of trade with France, Italy, the Netherlands and Scandinavia. We expect further growth in these markets as the industry and Bord Bia increase the level of their marketing and promotion efforts. Russia is our main 3rd Country market with Algeria and Egypt also taking Irish beef. We compete with the domestic suppliers of beef in the EU markets to which we send exports. Brazil and to a lesser extent, Argentina, also compete with us on the European and 3rd country markets. Imports from these two countries also impact on our domestic trade. However, the level of such imports only reflects a very small proportion of our overall production.