Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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897. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures has he taken to secure live export markets for sheep since he came into office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13781/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department, in co-operation with Bord Bia and the Irish embassies, continues to actively support the development of both the live export trade and the beef trade through the provision of market information, developing market access and promotional activity. In terms of the performance of the sector in 2013, I am pleased to note that for the third consecutive year Irish sheep throughput grew,reaching 2.61 million head, a rise of 8%. These developments led to sheepmeat production rising by around 3% to stand just over 55,000 tonnes. The total value of Irish sheepmeat exports is estimated to have increased by over 4% in 2013 to reach €220m. The market outlook for Irish sheepmeat in 2014 looks reasonably stable as a result of ongoing tight EU sheep supplies and a reduced presence of New Zealand lamb. Average prices to date this year are almost 6% ahead of 2013.

On the export front I intend to drive further the search for new markets in 2014. My Department in consultation with the meat industry and in cooperation with Bord Bia and the Irish Embassies abroad is constantly pushing for new markets and opportunities. The need for alternative markets as a buffer against market volatility was obvious in the sheep export statistics for 2013. Because of the economic downturn in the UK and France our exports to those markets dipped but we were able to offset this loss with increased exports to Belgium, Germany and Sweden thereby showing a positive net result for the sector at the end of the year. In addition, veterinary certificates have been agreed with Libya and Singapore, which facilitate the live export of sheep to these destinations.