Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

946. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of sheep imported from the UK and Northern Ireland in each of the years 2010 to 2016 and to date in 2017, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46687/17]

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

The intra EU movement of animals is recorded on the Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES), which is the EU-wide online management tool for all sanitary requirements on intra-EU trade and importation of animals, semen and embryo, food, feed and plants. Movements are recorded at the level of Member State only on TRACES.

However, no figures are available from TRACES for the period prior to 2016.

The totals of sheep imported from Northern Ireland to Ireland based on figures recorded by my Department’s Animal Identification and Movement (AIM) system for the years 2010 – 2015 inclusive are in the table. Figures available from TRACES for 2016 and up to 1 November 2017 showing imports from the United Kingdom are also presented below.

Whilst TRACES provide no further breakdown at a level lower than Member State the vast majority of sheep imported from the United Kingdom are imported directly from Northern Ireland.