Cowen Urges Review of Food Ban in Australia

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Brian Cowen T.D., has raised with his Australian counterpart the Australian temporary ban on EU food imports and the impact this is having on Irish companies, including the Wyeth plant in Askeaton, Co. Limerick. The Minister briefed Foreign Minister Alexander Downer this morning on the State's foot and mouth free status and the stringent measures which the Government here has been taking to prevent it entering the country. Mr. Downer assured the Minister that he would report his concerns to his ministerial colleague responsible for quarantine with a view to an early review of the ban.

Earlier today Mr. Cowen told an audience of Australian industrialists that Ireland is now the third largest exporter in the world, in per capita terms, and the world's largest exporter of computer software. He added that while much of our output is non-agricultural, this year we are promoting the quality of Irish produce and the stringent measures we are taking to protect the State against any threat of foot and mouth disease. "These efforts have been highly successful and with the continued cooperation of the entire country we will retain the foot and mouth free status which we have carefully guarded since 1941".

Speaking at the Lansdowne Club in Sydney, Australia's premier business association, he said that "the search for peace and reconciliation between North and South has been inextricably linked with other changes in Irish society", adding that the Good Friday Agreement could not have been possible without the new attitudes of openness and confidence that are the "foundation stones of the New Ireland and the New Economy".

The extent of our recent economic success may have been a surprise even to ourselves, he said, and credited much of this to the determination of successive Governments and the social partners since 1987. He also emphasised that Ireland, like Australia, knows that no society can pretend to achieve sustainable success without engagement in the outside world. "Our membership of the European Union has changed the way we see the world, helped us develop our economy, and substantially diversify our economic and trade relations".

He assured the audience of Australian industrialists that "we have managed to bring about this transformation in Irish society while still retaining what is best in our cultural heritage and tradition. Rather than diluting our Irishness, we have been able to plant and grow it abroad".

With almost 40% of Australians having Irish heritage, the bonds of kinship between Ireland and Australia are strong. Irish exports to Australia are now worth over A$ 1 billion and 20 Australian companies have invested in Ireland, employing over 2,000 people.Top