Michael D'Arcy (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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50. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of his Department’s efforts in gaining market access for Irish beef in the United States of America; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21325/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Ireland received a major reputational boost in 2015 as the first EU Member State to gain access to the US market for beef. Six plants are currently approved to export.

By the end of December 2015, Bord Bia estimated that approximately 1,800 tonnes of beef, with an estimated value of €14 million had been exported from Ireland to the US. This represents an exception ally strong start to this trade, considering that the first exports only went in March 2015 and some of the plants were only approved for export in September. That amount looks likely to be surpassed in 2016 as, by the end of June, almost 1,200 tonnes had been exported.

I was delighted to announce last week the decision of the US authorities to extend their approval for Irish beef to include manufacturing beef/beef intended for grinding. This follows intensive work between my Department and its US counterparts on a range of technical matters. This US decision clears the way for the necessary technical steps to be taken by individual beef plants who wish to export beef intended for grinding to the US.

It is a significant endorsement of Irish beef and my Department’s control systems. Ultimately the volume and value of trade will depend on relative commodity prices, global supply, currency exchange rates and other factors. US consumption of beef is estimated at 11 million tonnes, approximately 1 million of which is imported. The potential prize for Irish operators is therefore very significant, subject to the variables already outlined, particularly in circumstances where grass fed hormone free beef is gaining traction in the market place.

There has also been significant progress in facilitating trade in other international markets for Irish beef. My Department continues to push strongly for market access to other Third Countries and is currently in the process of trying to secure beef access to other third countries including China, Korea, Israel, Ukraine and Vietnam.

I can assure the deputy that I will continue to focus on opening as many third country markets as possible in order to provide exporters with commercial opportunities whenever and wherever they arise.