Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1622. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total value of Irish beef sales to the USA on a month by month basis in 2015 and 2016; the original targets set out; if he is satisfied with the figures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26392/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Ireland received a major reputational boost in 2015 as the first EU Member State to gain access to the US market for beef and seven plants are now currently approved to export. By the end of December 2015 approximately 1,800 tonnes of beef, with an estimated value of €14 million, had been exported from Ireland to the US. This represents an exceptionally 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 2015. That amount looks likely to be surpassed in 2016, as by the end of June almost 1,200 tonnes had been exported. These figures are available on a quarterly basis only and month by month breakdowns are not available.

I was delighted to announce over the summer the decision of the US authorities to extend their approval for Irish beef to include manufacturing beef/beef intended for grinding (BIFG). This marks the culmination of over a year of intensive work between my Department and its US counterparts on a range of technical matters. This decision by the US on our enhanced access is a huge endorsement of Irish beef and our production and regulatory systems. This recent extension of our access in the US has the capability to be a significant boost to the sector over a period of time.

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, subject to the variables already outlined, very significant, particularly in circumstances where grass fed hormone free beef is gaining traction in the market place.

The role of my Department is to secure greater access to third country markets and not to set targets for the export of various commodities to the different individual markets. Ultimately the volume and value of trade will be subject to market forces and depend on a range of factors such as currency exchange rates, relative commodity prices and global supply and demand patterns.

The access that we enjoy to the USA complements the other market outlets we have secured in recent years, the development of which is a key element of our Food Wise 2025 strategy. There has also been significant progress in facilitating trade in other international markets for Irish beef and fourteen markets for Irish beef have been opened since 2011. My Department continues to push strongly for market access to other Third Countries and we are currently in the process of trying to secure beef access to a range of other third countries. Indeed this was a crucial component of the recent Trade Mission to Asia, conducted by myself and Minister of State Doyle, where positive progress was made in relation to beef access for China, South Korea and Vietnam. It is my intention to continue to focus on developing as many third country markets as possible in order to provide exporters as many commercial opportunities as possible in a competitive global market place.