Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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710. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to increase live exports of cattle which are down 25% on 2015. [21309/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Live exports serve a vital purpose as a means of satisfying market demand for live animals and providing alternative market outlets for Irish cattle farmers. I attach major importance to the live cattle export trade, and my Department, along with Bord Bia, has been proactive in encouraging and facilitating such exports. Last year saw high levels of exports of cattle to both Britain and Northern Ireland, largely driven by favourable currency rates, which made cattle from this country more competitive in those markets. However, as a result of a closer Euro Vs Sterling exchange rate, exports to the UK this year are lower by approximately 50%. Exports to Italy however are up by almost 20% and exports to Spain have grown by 11%.

The markets currently open to live cattle from Ireland include Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Serbia and Algeria and most recently Turkey, in addition to the other Member States of the European Union. Animal health restrictions and geopolitical instability have impeded previously large-scale exports to Belgium and North Africa respectively.

My Department has agreed health certificates for the export of live cattle to Turkey, Egypt, Serbia and Algeria in 2016 and is currently investigating the possibility of bilateral health certificates for the export of cattle to Kazakhstan, Montenegro, as well as breeding cattle to Morocco.

The exploitation of market outlets, once opened is a commercial matter for the live export sector, and is affected by the usual variables, including the cost of animals at marts, domestic demand for live cattle, the relative cost of beef on the domestic and international markets, currency exchange rates, transport costs and other factors.

I will continue to ensure that Irish meat and livestock producers have the option of exporting to as many global markets as possible for both processed meat and live cattle.

Michael D'Arcy (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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711. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress he has made in achieving market access to Turkey for Irish live exports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21360/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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On 13 June 2016 Ireland was added to the list of Countries approved to export live cattle to Turkey. The market was opened following a period of detailed engagement by DAFM with the Turkish authorities, which culminated in a visit to Ireland by a Turkish Veterinary team in May 2016. A Veterinary Certificate allowing live exports of cattle from Ireland to Turkey is now in place in relation to cattle for breeding, fattening and slaughter.