Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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317. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the progress to secure new market access for live cattle exports in non-European Union countries, including Egypt, Iran and Turkey; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12115/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Good progress has been made in securing access to new markets for live cattle exports to non-EU countries. In relation to Turkey a Turkish delegation visited Ireland earlier this month to discuss certification and a number of associated issues. In the course of their visit they met with officials of my Department and visited the Central Veterinary Laboratory, farms and cattle assembly centres. The Turkish delegation indicated that they would be submitting a report to their authorities. A decision is now awaited. I am hopeful of a favourable outcome to this process.

With regard to Egypt, a certificate in respect of live cattle exports to that country is already in place and commercial activity is awaited.

In the case of Iran, the market there is for beef, not live cattle. A delegation from my Department recently visited that country and prospects for re-opening the beef market there remain good.