Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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505. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the quantity in number of head and value in euro by animal category (details supplied) of live sheep exported from the State, by the country that it was exported to over the past five calendar years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21456/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Exports and imports of live sheep are recorded on the Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES).

TRACES is the European Commission's online platform for sanitary and phytosanitary certification required for the importation of animals, animal products, food and feed of non-animal origin and plants into the European Union. It is also used for intra-EU trade and EU exports of animals and certain animal products.

My Department uses TRACES to record all sheep movements between Ireland and all other jurisdictions whether for slaughter, breeding or fattening purposes.

The system records the volume, but not the value, of imported and exported sheep and does not differentiate by ovine category - whether lamb/hogget, spring lamb, ewe or ram.

While live sheep exports occur throughout the year, the majority of animals are shipped in July/August because of the seasonality of production.

The tables hereunder provide information on the quantity of live sheep exported to destination markets annually for the years 2018 to 2022 inclusive. The data shows that France accounted for almost 70 percent of live sheep exports during that period.

Live Sheep Exports 2022

Live Sheep Exports 2021

Live Sheep Exports 2020

Live Sheep Exports 2019

Live Sheep Exports 2018