104 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the criteria under which the reopening of the Egyptian market is taking place; the likely impact of the reopening of the market for beef in the next six to 12 months in view of the 24 month limitation imposed on the age of animals for this market and the necessity to have such animals tested for BSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25103/01]

The decision by the Egyptian authorities to provide for exceptions to the ban on European beef imports for countries which can meet certain conditions regarding BSE is a very welcome development for Irish beef producers. It follows on an intensive campaign by Ireland at political, diplomatic and technical levels to gain recognition for the way in which BSE is being dealt with here.

In general, the Egyptian authorities have indicated that they will permit beef imports on condition that the beef is derived from cattle aged less than 24 months from which the specified risk material has been removed. Furthermore, those cattle must be fully traceable, test negatively for BSE, never have been fed ruminant MBM and only come from farms in which no case of BSE has occurred in the past three years. The Deputy will be aware that BSE controls in place in Ireland in recent years mean that the Egyptian requirements relating to traceability, BSE testing, MBM, etc., are fully met by our existing controls. As regards age, the fact is that a similar condition is not new within the Egyptian requirements and, as with all such conditions, much will depend on how it is applied in practice.

What does that mean?

Please allow the Minister of State to conclude. We are running out of time.

It is an area we should leave as vague as possible.

The Minister of State should not be mysterious.

I am not being mysterious. I am being factual.

Contacts are taking place in Cairo between importers and the Egyptian authorities on matters relating to certification, specification and terms of supply. I understand a number of applications for import licences have already been submitted to the Egyptian authorities. The question then of competing for contracts is a commercial matter for the exporters involved and it is not feasible at this stage to speculate on the likely impact of the reopening of the market in the next six to 12 months. I am, naturally, hopeful that Irish exporters will compete to regain the level of market share they enjoyed in recent years.

We live in hope.

Does the Minister of State agree that this is more a psychological fillip than a real material boost, that it is nothing more than a vote of confidence in the safety and quality of our beef and that it means nothing to anybody at this stage and for the next six to nine months, particularly spring finished beef? What steps would his Department and Teagasc, in particular, take to change the methods of production to ensure there is an integrated beef system which finishes with two year old animals to comply, as the Minister of State said, with the conditions dictated by the market? What steps will he, his Department and, in particular, Teagasc take to ensure we are in a position to fulfil the market conditions and the criteria now laid down?

As I said, the market conditions imposed, apart from the additional ones on BSE and ruminant feed, are no different from what was in place or in the Iranian market previously. It is an improvement. As I said previously, there were 114,000 tonnes sold there in the first nine months of last year until the foot and mouth disease crisis and the cases of BSE in Germany and France particularly upset us. The major issue here, apart from sales which will be ready for this market, is that it is a signal to other markets that they are happy with our method of traceability and the way we handled BSE.

There are a number of Deputies offering and if they are rapid, we will hear them all.

Does the Minister of State agree that it is important to secure a significant hike in export refunds in order to gain access to this market? What contact has his Department made with Commissioner Fischler, who at one time seemed to reassure us that he would consider us favourably in the event of those markets being resecured?

Does the Minister of State agree that the reopening of the Egyptian market sends out a very good signal to other countries about the quality of Irish beef and the stringent regulations which apply in County Meath?

How many of his cattle will go to Egypt before Christmas?

Deputy Dukes, is that your supplementary question?

I am very proud of the beef from County Meath.

Deputy Brady is a starry-eyed optimist.

Does the Minister of State accept that the majority of Irish cattle are born in the spring? If so, how many of those cattle could possibly be saleable at 15 or 18 months of age? Does he accept that the majority of cattle are more like 30 months old than 24 months old and, therefore, unacceptable to Egypt? On a national basis, only 18% are available. This is a scam.

Is the Minister of State aware that the Irish Meat Producers Association has stated that, in the absence of veterinary certificates, which they do not yet have, and with the current level of export refund the Egyptian market simply is not worth their while – it does not pay? Does he agree that we will not see any beef exported to Egypt before the end of the year? Certainly none of Deputy Brady's cattle will go there.

Does the Minister of State agree that the announcement made by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, Deputy Walsh, about the resumption of exports of cattle to Egypt was only a public relations exercise? When will the Minister let the farmers know that the first shipment of cattle will leave for Egypt? I am afraid that the cattle boat is stuck in the mud, as far as the farmers of Ireland are concerned, when it comes to exports of beef.

I am glad to know that the publicity of the Minister, Deputy Walsh, is affecting Deputy Sheehan in the constituency to the extent that he is getting that hot about it.

It is a pity the Minister is not present to hear us.

The Minister of State to conclude.

On export refunds, no changes have been made to the position about which Deputy Penrose asked. Deputy Dukes asked about the veterinary certificates. That is now a matter of agreement between the Irish and Egyptian authorities as to the standard they want to achieve. That is being discussed and looked at.

When will we know?

We expect to know within a couple of weeks. We know that these matters take a little longer in some countries than they do here, but we are particularly happy with all the efforts made at every level, up to the Taoiseach and President Mubarak, which ensured this market would open again.

Deputy Crawford spoke of the age criterion of 24 months. What the customer wants is what he or she must get. That is the bottom line.

Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.