Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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109. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the benefits he expects to accrue to beef farmers selling weanlings arising from the opening up of the US market to Irish beef; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1966/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The opening of any major third country market for Irish beef is a very positive development for the entire beef sector given our heavy reliance on exports. This is particularly true of a huge market like the US, even more so given we are the first EU member State to secure such access which I believe is testimony to the quality and production values associated with Irish beef. The total US beef market is estimated at 11 million metric tonnes. It is split 60: 40 between food service and grocery retail (by volume). The US imports 1.2m tonnes of beef every year and demand for Irish beef there is expected to be immediate and exceptionally strong. I know that some of the leading Irish beef exporters have had people on the ground in the US for some time now in preparation for this announcement and they are reporting huge opportunities for Irish companies when the trade commences. Bord Bia has identified the primary target for US market entry as key culinary centres such as New York City, Boston and Washington DC, followed by listings in premium grocery retailers initially in the North Eastern states.

Undoubtedly the opening of any new market is good news for our beef producers, bringing as it does new outlets and new market opportunities which ultimately form the basis for the returns to the primary producers. Irish farmers undertake a variety of beef production systems and the specific practice of raising beef weanlings should benefit from the opening of the US market given that weanling prices are influenced by deadweight prices achieved through meat factories and by future projections of supply and demand, both in Ireland and elsewhere.

As regards the coming year, the forecast is for some slight improvement in Irish cattle prices in 2015 as a result of tighter Irish cattle supplies and a shift in the UK beef supply and use balance. While there are a number of factors which can of course influence the market, I am hopeful that Irish weanling prices should also increase in line with this movement in finished cattle prices.