Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 309: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the countries to which Irish beef, lamb, pig and pig meat has been exported in the past five years; the countries where markets have been lost or new markets established; the prospects for the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43867/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Based on the records of the Central Statistics Office and my own Department, Irish beef, lamb, and pigmeat has been exported to the following countries in the period from 2004 to 2008. Beef EU/EEA Countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom. Third Countries: Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Benin, Comoros, Congo, Ecuador, Egypt, Faroe Islands, Gabon, Georgia, Ghana, Gibraltar, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Mayotte, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, South Africa, Suriname, Thailand, Trinidad & Tobago, Vatican City, Vietnam and Zambia. It should be noted that not all the countries listed above featured as export destinations in a particular year. Over 90% of Irish beef production is exported. The distribution of Irish beef exports has undergone significant change since 2000. Only 50% of beef exports went to other European countries in 2000 compared to some 98% in 2008. The principal factors behind this change in market distribution have been the emergence of a significant supply deficit in the European beef market combined with an improved market position for Irish beef in key markets. This development represents significant progress for the Irish beef sector as the EU market continues to offer the best returns to Irish exporters on a consistent basis. At the same time, efforts continue to improve access to third country markets. Within the past year, the markets in Indonesia and the UAE have been re-opened to Irish beef, subject to agreement on veterinary health certification. Regarding the future prospects for Irish beef exports, current indications are positive. Overall availability of beef in the EU has fallen because of declining production and reduced imports from South America. While consumer research indicates that meat purchases are being affected by the recession, these will likely improve with any economic recovery. Sheepmeat Irish sheepmeat has been exported to the following countries in the period from 2004 to 2008. EU/EEA Countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden Switzerland & United Kingdom. Third Countries: Algeria, Ghana, Gibraltar, Tunisia, Vatican City & Vietnam. In 2008, Ireland exported 47,828 tonnes of sheepmeat, of which 99.9% was destined for the high-value EU marketplace. The absence of export refunds together with a production deficit within the EU means that the market focus is on Europe and there is little penetration outside the EU. Exports to non-EU countries declined from 2.3% in 2004 to 0.2% in 2008. Traditionally, the major export market for Irish lamb within the EU has been France, which in 2008 accounted for just over 48% of exports. Seven countries accounted for 96% of sheepmeat exports in 2004 and the same seven countries also accounted for 97% of sheepmeat exports in 2007, namely: France, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Sweden and the UK. The number of new potential markets for Irish lamb is limited due to the relatively high cost of the meat and also due to cultural factors, as lamb is not widely eaten in many countries of Eastern European. As a result, promotional efforts are targeted at maintaining and developing existing markets, including the home market Pigmeat Over the course of the last five years Ireland has traded pigmeat with over 60 countries worldwide. EU/EEA Countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Third Countries: Angola, Antigua, Bahamas, Benin, Bermuda, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, China, Dominican Republic, Eritrea, Gabon, Ghana, Gibraltar, Haiti, Hong Kong, India, Jamaica, Japan, Kuwait, Liberia, Mexico, Moldova, Mozambique, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Russian Federation, Singapore. South Africa, South Korea, Thailand, Trinidad & Tobago, United Arab Emirates, Ukraine, USA and Vietnam. It should be noted that not all the countries listed above featured as export destinations in a particular year. During the period in question the UK has remained the largest single destination for Irish pigmeat exports, accounting for approximately 55% of the total. Continental Europe's share has grown to almost 30% in 2008 with third countries accounting for approximately one-fifth on average since 2004. Following the dioxin crisis of December 2008, a number of countries placed trade suspensions on Irish pigmeat. In the course of the year, my Department, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Bord Bia secured the re-opening of some of these markets. Trade suspensions remain in relation to trade with two significant importing markets – Russia and China – and my Department is actively seeking to re-open those markets. In general, Irish pigmeat is exported for further manufacturing market across the EU and international markets. Bord Bia's objective for pigmeat exports is to target final processors, especially in continental Europe, and to increase market access for Irish exports in international markets thereby deriving a better return for Irish processors.