Fresh data released to Aontú TD for Mayo, Paul Lawless, provides a full list of the 68 countries from whom Ireland has imported beef since 2015.
Speaking today, Deputy Lawless said: “I am concerned that we’ve seen a 33% increase in the quantity of beef imported to Ireland. I’m concerned about the quality of the product, the potential health risks associated with beef from certain other countries. Last year Ireland imported 40,977 tonnes of beef, valued at almost €288 million. This compares with 30,841 tonnes imported ten years ago in 2016. The amount imported last year is higher than any previous year provided in the data”.
“While a lot of this is coming from Britain, there are nearly seventy countries listed, including countries in Asia, Africa and South America. I think the government needs to clarify what checks and balances are being done on this produce, is it being tested, where is it going, who is consuming it?”
“Irish beef as we all know is second to none. It is a product we should be proud of. As our farmers face the threat of Mercosur we as politicians need to be working twice as hard to support them and to advertise their product and talk up their product both locally and internationally. This country with such a fantastic product and reputation should not be importing 40,000 tonnes of beef from other countries. We should be supporting our own”, concluded Lawless.
