The agriculture industry received a boost today when Egypt confirmed plans to reopen their IR£200 million-a-year imports from the Republic.
The Middle East state suspended trading almost a year ago because of continuing BSE outbreaks in Europe.
But the Egyptian government said today the ban was being lifted following a visit to Dublin by a senior delegation of Egyptian agriculture officials in August and an intensive diplomatic campaign spearheaded by the Irish government.
The move by Egypt could head off a glut of cattle in the Republic at a time of the year when animals are ready for slaughter.
Up to the point of last November's halt of trading with Ireland, the Egyptians had been buying around a third of Irish beef exports.
The development also marked the end of a traumatic period for Irish agriculture because of restrictions imposed during the height of the foot-and-mouth crisis earlier this year.
In the event, only one case of the disease was confirmed - on a sheep farm close to the Co Louth border with Northern Ireland - and although cattle were slaughtered in some areas in precautionary moves, the virus was never detected among beef or dairy herds in Ireland.
The Minister for Agriculture, Mr Joe Walsh, described the Egyptian decision as "excellent" and the move was also welcomed by the Irish Food Board and farm representative organisations.
PA