Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 February 2026
469. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the percentage of beef sourced from Ireland versus the UK or EU by processors involved in Bord Bia schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13673/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe CSO's meat supply balance shows the quantity of meat available from livestock slaughterings and imports and how it used, principally for sale and consumption in either domestic or export markets. Data for the years 2022 to 2024 shows that imports typically constitute between 6% and 7% of total available beef supply. Note that for this dataset, the raw tonnage of internationally traded meat and meat products is converted by the CSO to its carcass weight equivalent to meet harmonised EU standards in the compilation of supply balance sheets.
Over the past three years, raw beef imports have averaged 37,300 tonnes annually. The preliminary 2025 trade data just released by the CSO shows that beef imports amounted to almost 41,000t and were valued at approximately €288m.
The UK accounted for 36,948t, or 90%, of the total imported volume last year with quantities split almost evenly between GB (53%) and NI (47%). A further 3,402t, or 8%, originated from other EU member states with the remaining 627t, or 2%, coming from non-EU countries.
The import statistics must be viewed in the context of the overall beef trade data which shows that almost 460,000t worth €3.64 billion was exported from Ireland in 2025.
The CSO trade data does not identify individual consignees which may not, in any case, be the end user of the imported product. As this full year data is a preliminary estimate, it may be subject to some revision by the CSO.
