Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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865. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 818 of 15 September 2021, the actions he has taken in response to a factory in Northern Ireland ceasing to slaughter pigs from Ireland; if he has concerns regarding the effect this will have on farmers’ income and animal welfare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46710/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I am concerned at reports that labour and CO₂shortages are impacting on pig processing capacity in Norther Ireland. Of course commercial capacity issues in that jurisdiction are not a matter that can be resolved by authorities in this jurisdiction.

In relation to processing capacity in Ireland, the Department has regular engagement with industry on this issue and has facilitated further engagement with the Department of Social Protection in seeking to recruit labour from within the Irish and European Union markets.

The Department has also engaged with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment to explore the possibility of further employment permits for certain occupations in meat processing where it is not possible to recruit sufficient labour from within the domestic and European labour pools. These discussions remain ongoing.

I and my officials have also highlighted to the meat processing sector the need to have appropriate labour attraction and retention policies in place, especially as competition for labour grows with the re-opening of the economy in line with the easing of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.

The Department is closely monitoring the current situation in the pig sector from both an economic and animal welfare perspective. In terms of the current market situation, I am acutely aware of the challenges faced by Irish pig producers albeit having come off historically high prices. The Department continues to closely monitor the situation both in Ireland and across the EU.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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866. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of pigs processed in meat factories within the State for the years 2016 to 2020 and 2021 to date; the number of pigs originating within the State that were and are processed in Northern Ireland for the years 2016 to 2020 and 2021 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46711/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Pig meat is the fourth most valuable sector of the Irish agri-food industry in terms of exports after dairy, beef and beverages. Exports increased by 0.21% in value terms in 2020 compared to 2019, totalling just over €893 million according to Central Statistics Office figures. This equates to 6.3% of overall food, drink and horticulture exports.

Irish pig meat production in 2020 was up on 2019, with 3.5 million head processed by DAFM approved meat plants. Production for 2021 year to date (as of week ending 19th September 2021) has seen a 5.9% increase over the same period of 2020.

Pig Slaughter Figures for Ireland:

Figures taken from the EU's Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES) system show that Ireland has exported a total of 335,000 live pigs in 2021 to date (23rd September), with 331,556 of these to Northern Ireland. The vast majority of these pigs are exported for the purposes of slaughter as detailed below, with smaller numbers designated as being for the purposes of production or breeding.

Pigs exported to Northern Ireland for slaughter: