Questions

736. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps being taken to address the structural supply shock in the beef sector, including the reported 18.7% decline in first quarter 2026 cattle throughput compared to 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45263/26]

737. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the impact of lagged live exports and nitrates derogation constraints on national cattle availability in 2026; the measures planned to stabilise supply for Irish processors and farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45264/26]

738. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has examined the growing gap between strong beef export values and returns to primary producers; the actions being taken to ensure fair price transmission along the supply chain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45265/26]

739. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will report on the projected cattle kill levels for the remainder of 2026 and into 2027, in light of the structural changes in the national herd and dairy sector outlined by an organisation (details supplied) at the Joint Committee meeting of 27 May 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45266/26]

740. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the latest data on the volume and value of Brazilian and other third-country beef imports into Ireland and the EU in 2025 and to date in 2026; his views on whether such imports are undermining the Irish beef sector amid domestic supply constraints; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45267/26]

741. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the engagement his Department has had with an organisation (details supplied) and farming organisations, particularly regarding the reported decline in consumer demand for beef steaks and joints; the initiatives planned to boost domestic and EU market demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45268/26]

742. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department will conduct or commission an independent review of margins across the beef supply chain, given concerns that farmers are not benefiting proportionately from export performance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45269/26]

743. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the supports available or planned for suckler and beef farmers facing income volatility due to reduced cattle throughput and price pressure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45270/26]

744. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his assessment of the long-term sustainability of the Irish beef processing sector in the context of ongoing nitrates constraints, live export trends, and supply contraction; the policy measures he will introduce to support both processors and primary producers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45271/26]

466. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures in place to ensure traceability for Brazilian beef imports under EU and Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine licence conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13670/26]

467. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the protocols for serial numbers or labelling used on Brazilian beef consignments entering Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13671/26]

468. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to clarify if the exact tonnage of Brazilian beef imports in 2025 is publicly disclosed or is it commercial sensitive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13672/26]

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]

474. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the records that are maintained for testing all imported beef, including consignments from Brazil; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13679/26]

475. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if all Brazilian beef imports are tested for banned hormones and antibiotics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13680/26]

476. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the process by which positive release is achieved for every batch or shipment of imported beef; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13681/26]

492. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide the latest weekly and year-to-date cattle slaughter figures for 2026; his assessment of the 30,000+ head shortfall in the first six weeks of the year; the steps his Department is taking to safeguard both farmer incomes and processing capacity in the beef sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13919/26]

493. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to reports of potential redundancies in beef processing facilities amid declining cattle throughput; the contingency measures in place to protect rural employment in counties such as County Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13920/26]

795. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which he justifies expecting Irish beef farmers to abide by high standards and regulations for the production of beef, when it is now envisaged that a certain amount of beef will now be for sale to Irish consumers as a result of the so-called Mercosur agreement which falls well below those standards. [3698/26]