The suspension of beef exports to China is a real blow, especially when the market had only reopened recently and was building back slowly. What is more worrying is the last time we had this same situation the suspension lasted three years and that cannot happen again. While I appreciate this is a matter for the Chinese Government, what engagement has the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine has had with the Chinese authorities and what specifically will he be doing to be proactive in ensuring the speedy reversal of this decision? Likewise, the demand for beef is really strong in our main export markets, but the supply of cattle here is tightening and beef farmers should be seeing better prices, but there remains that 30 cent gap with the export benchmark price. We need to see that gap closing to enure better prices for beef farmers again. I ask the Minister to be just as proactive in seeking to close that gap, especially given we still have a situation where many farmers are not getting a fair price for their produce consistently.

The Deputy can be sure both the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, and the Minister of State, Deputy Heydon, will be very proactive on this and indeed the Tánaiste is in China as we speak. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has to submit an epidemiological report to the Chinese control authority, which it will assess before deciding whether the suspension can be lifted. The Department has commenced the investigation and will work to provide this information to the Chinese authorities as soon as possible. We are of the view the suspension should be able to be lifted following the submission of this document, given the atypical and isolated nature of this case, as well as the efficacy of our BSE surveillance system.