Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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567. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of grass fed beef exported to Canada per annum for the past ten years; the value of this produce; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25440/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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While more than 90% of our beef exports go to EU markets, it is always beneficial to have the maximum possible number of market outlets available for our high quality food products. I am therefore committed to ensuring that Irish operators have access to as many markets as possible worldwide. Ireland, in common with the rest of the EU, currently does not have official access to the Canadian market for beef. I have made no secret of my concerns regarding the current Canadian stance, which is not in line with OIE international standards, and will continue to press to have the ban on EU and Irish beef lifted by the Canadians.