Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

694. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which his Department has reviewed the future prospects for the Irish beef sector with particular reference to market penetration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60487/21]

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

Our world-class beef sector is a key cornerstone of our overall €14bn export agrifood sector. Beef worth over €2.3 billion, or 524,530 tonnes, was exported in 2020, down slightly in both value and volume on 2019. This is a solid performance especially given the fact much of the global food service sector was shut due to COVID-19 for large parts of 2020.

The largest destination for beef exports (46%) was the United Kingdom. 44% of beef products were exported to countries within the EU, with France, Netherlands, Italy and Germany the largest destinations. The remaining 10% by value went to 55 countries around the globe.

Currently, the average R3 steer price is 16% above the same period in 2020 at €4.16/Kg.

Year-to-date slaughter figures are 4.5% behind the same period last year with a total of 1.5 million head slaughtered so far this year.

In line with our overall strategy for the agrifood sector, securing market access and diversifying trade remains a key aim for my Department, which is prioritising work on retaining and enhancing existing market access, and expanding beef market access to new destinations.

Additionally, Ireland's negligible risk status for BSE confers an advantage in terms of advancing our priority objective of market diversification and enhancement of existing markets.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

695. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which his Department has reviewed the future prospects for the Irish lamb sector with particular reference to market penetration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60488/21]

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

Sheepmeat exports worth approximately €356 million, or 64,100 tonnes were exported in 2020, an increase of 12% in value and 3.5% in volume on 2019. The top five destinations account for 80% of sheepmeat exports with France the number one destination, accounting for one third of exports, with Great Britain, Germany, Sweden and Belgium as the next most important destinations.

The outlook for Irish and EU lamb prices for 2021/2022 is stable, with global sheep meat prices projected to remain good. Irish lamb prices are forecast to increase by 7% on 2020. Currently the year to date average price is €6.93/Kg which is a 33% increase on the previous year.Teagasc forecast that the average sheep farm income is to increase by 6% in 2021, following a 24% increase in 2020.

According to the FAO, global sheepmeat prices in real terms are expected to remain high over the next decade, as contractions in flocks will reduce global supply and restrict trade from the two leading exporters: Australia and New Zealand. Consumption is expected to remain relatively stable to 2030.

Securing market access and diversifying trade remains a key aim for my Department. I was pleased last week with the announcement that the US ban on sheep meat exports from the EU has been lifted. My officials will now engage with US authorities on the next steps to full access and to ensure that Irish sheepmeat exports to this valuable market will be able to commence as soon as possible.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

696. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which his Department has reviewed the future prospects for Irish pig meat with particular reference to market penetration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60489/21]

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

The pig sector has shown exceptional growth over the last decade. It is the third largest agrifood sector, accounting for 6.3% of the output value of the agrifood sector and generated exports of €893 million in 2020; this compares to an export value of €330 million in 2010. Export growth to international markets has been particularly strong.

Production saw an increase of 4.2% to over 3.5 million head in 2020 and currently year to date 2021 slaughter figures are 4.9% higher than the same period of 2020.

In 2020, the main export destinations, in order of magnitude, were: China, Great Britain, Germany, Japan, Denmark, Northern Ireland and Australia. Cumulatively, those seven countries, representing a good mixture of EU and non-EU markets, accounted for 83 per cent of pigmeat exports in volume terms and 85 per cent in value terms.

My Department continues to support the Irish pigmeat sector and facilitate its development by prioritising market access both through maintaining existing markets and pursuing access to new ones.

In May 2020, for example, the Mexican market was opened for raw frozen pigmeat. Securing access was the successful culmination of engagement with internal and external stakeholders over several years.

My officials continue to work towards increasing market diversification by opening and improving access to as many international markets as possible.

The short-term outlook for the pigmeat market will be influenced by global supply and demand dynamics as well as by potential disruptions to supply chains.

Ensuring the continued operation of Irish food supply chains and expanding market access remain key priorities for my Department and my officials are continuing to monitor the current market situation closely.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

697. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which his Department has reviewed the future prospects for the Irish poultry sector with particular reference to market penetration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60490/21]

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

Poultrymeat, which is a food in high protein, has seen an increase in demand in recent years. Irish production reached record levels in 2020, with a total of 111 million birds processed in Department approved establishments. Figures for 2021 to date suggested that total volume is up around 1% on 2020 levels.

In addition, prices for poultry meat have remained relatively stable and prices at end of October 2021 for poultry meat were €2.15 per kg, a 1c/kg increase on the same period of 2020.

At a domestic level, reductions at food service level appear to have been compensated for by increased demand at retail level. According to data released by Kantar, domestic fresh poultry sales for the 52-week end period to 31st October 2021 come in at just under €315 million.

However, the value of poultry meat exports for 2020 decreased by 12.1% on 2019 to just under €256 million, with the effect of falling food service demand in international markets a major factor.

Changes to global supply patterns and the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic saw a decrease in the value of exports, as well as a decrease in the tonnage for 2021, coming in at €167.1 million and 68,087 tonnes respectively as of September year-to-date. However, poultry meat retains a positive perception amongst consumers.

The Food Vision 2030 Strategy published by my Department in August is a new 10-year strategy for the Irish agrifood sector which envisages that Ireland will become a world leader in Sustainable Food Systems over the next decade.

Developing market opportunities at home and abroad is an important strategic goal and the creation of added value through insight, innovation and enhancement of consumer trust will be critical to its achievement.

As in other meat sectors, global trade conditions will be crucial in determining the outlook for the Irish poultry sector over the medium to longer term. My Department will continue to monitor the markets and any impacts on the agrifood sector.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

698. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which his Department has reviewed the future prospects for the Irish dairy sector with particular reference to market penetration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60491/21]

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

In 2020, Irish dairy exports accounted for 36% of all Irish agrifood exports with a value of €5.1 billion, exceeding the €5 billion mark for the second consecutive year.

Whilst 2021 has posed significant challenges across all global markets, Irish dairy exports are performing strongly in the year to date. Diversifying and developing markets for Irish dairy exports will continue to be a priority and a central component of the strategic development of the dairy sector, as evidenced by the objectives set out for the sector in Food Vision 2030.

The stakeholder-led Food Vision 2030 Strategy for the Irish agrifood sector sets an ambition that Ireland will become a world leader in Sustainable Food Systems (SFS) over the next decade. The Strategy takes a food systems approach, recognising the linkages between food and health and food and the environment.

It emphasises the need to continue to meet world-class standards in food safety, animal health and welfare and increased value-addition, building on sustainable steady value growth, to include an increase in the value of total agrifood exports to €21 billion by 2030.

Developing market opportunities at home and abroad is a key goal under the Strategy and creation of added value through insight and innovation and enhancement of consumer trust are key contributors to its achievement.

Value-added opportunities will be targeted through the retention and the growth of existing market shares, development of new non-EU markets, and product innovation.

My Department and Bord Bia will continue to cooperate in prioritising and developing markets and engaging with key trading partners to enhance the global market share of Irish dairy produce. Key to this are trade missions, both in-person and virtual, facilitated by my Department, Bord Bia, and the Embassy network, as well as inward and outward technical visits, and other trade development and promotional activities facilitated by industry.

The long-term fundamentals of the global dairy market are strong, with growing global demand projected, particularly in Asian markets, and Irish dairy produce is well placed to meet that demand.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

699. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he remains satisfied that meat and meat products imported into Europe comply with European standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60492/21]

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

Food products, including meat and meat products, placed on the European marketplace are covered by a range of legislation designed to ensure that products supplied to consumers are of the highest safety standards.

The Department plays a key role in the enforcement of this legislation along with Competent Authorities in other Member States, other Irish Government departments and State Agencies such as the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) and the Health Service Executive.

The import of products of animal origin from third countries is governed by a comprehensive and robust legislative framework laid down at EU level, controlled by Member States in the first instance, and audited by the European Commission’s Directorate General for Health and Food Safety to ensure compliance with all of the relevant food safety standards. The legislation imposes health and supervisory requirements designed to ensure that imported products meet standards equivalent to those required for production and trade between Member States.

Veterinary checks are carried out by staff from my Department on consignments of foods of animal origin imported from third countries at designated Border Control Posts. All such consignments undergo documentary and identity checks; physical checks, including sampling of products, are carried out according to European regulations. Import control procedures on products of animal origin are highly prescriptive and are strictly audited by the Directorate to ensure compliance. Audit finding reports are published on the Directorate’s website.

The control procedures that are in place and implemented by staff in my Department ensure, as much as is possible, that imported meat or meat products meet the required standards for placing on the EU market.

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

700. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of non-EU lamb slaughtered in Ireland in 2020 and to date in 2021; the origin of that lamb; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60511/21]

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

Live sheep may be imported into Ireland for the purposes of breeding, fattening or direct slaughter. Traditionally, most live sheep imported into Ireland have come from the UK, including Northern Ireland. In 2020 and 2021 year-to -ate, all of the live sheep imported into Ireland have come for the UK.

- In the last full year, 2020, a total of 441,988 sheep were imported from the UK comprising of 421,855 from Northern Ireland and 20,113 sheep from Britain.

- Up to 1st October 2021, a total of 259,634 sheep were imported from Northern Ireland with none from Britain.

Sheepmeat exports worth approximately €356 million, or 64,100 tonnes were exported in

2020, up 12% in value and 3.5% in volume on 2019.

The top five destinations account for 80% of sheepmeat exports with France the number one destination, accounting for one third of exports. In total, 73% of our sheepmeat exports went to EU27 countries, up slightly on recent years, while 17% by value went to the United Kingdom.

Free movement of goods in the EU's Single Market in particular facilitates this free flow of trade and, of course, means that Ireland must be open to imports of live animals and food products from other parts of the Single Market.

The Department publishes a weekly sheep slaughter summary which provides a detailed summary of the different categories of sheep slaughtered in meat plants on a weekly basis and can be located at the following link

The following table outlines the categories of lambs and total ovines slaughtered in 2020 and 2021 (YTD, week commencing 22/11/2021)