Minister Dick Roche, T.D., in bilateral talks with the Foreign Secretary of the Philippines and the Deputy Foreign Minister of Indonesia raised the matter of opening the markets in the Philippines and Indonesia to Irish beef, at the EU-ASEAN Summit in Singapore today.

The Foreign Secretary of the Philippines, Foreign Secretary Mr. Romulo gave the Minister his assurance that he would take a personal interest in ensuring an early response to the recent visit to Manila of experts from the Department of Agriculture and Food who sought the urgent lifting of the restrictions on the importation of Irish Beef to the Philippines.

Minister Roche also sought and received assurances from the Deputy Foreign Minister of Indonesia that Ireland and Indonesia will be able to agree – in the  future - on the removal of the ban on the export of Irish beef to Indonesia. A Memorandum of Understanding between the two Agriculture Ministries - incorporating areas of mutual co-operation and technical assistance - is under active consideration in Jakarta and a delegation of Indonesian experts are due to visit Ireland in the very near future to be briefed at first hand on our food safety controls – which  Deputy Foreign Mr. Cotan  felt confident would lead to the resumption in trade of beef products from Ireland to Indonesia.

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Press
21/11/07