Efforts by the Department of Agriculture to revive Ireland's €300m beef export trade with Egypt were last night dismissed as inadequate by the Irish Farmers Association (IFA).
Mr John Dillon, IFA president, said the decision to send senior departmental officers to Cairo for discussions with Egyptian authorities would do little to boost exports to the north African state.
Sales to Egypt remain sluggish since it formally reopened trade with Ireland this summer, 18 months after banning exports amid a sharp increase in BSE cases across the EU.
The IFA claims inadequate EU export refunds are forcing Irish producers to offer beef at uncompetitive prices. Mr Dillon called on the Minister for Agriculture to vigorously lobby EU Agriculture Commissioner Mr Franz Fischler to increase export refunds. Cattle farmers were in crisis with the price per head falling by €75 in the past two months, he said.
Mr Dillon said: "Despite several announcements on reopening trade with Egypt, the Minister has failed to re-establish Ireland's standing in this important and traditional beef trade."
But last night a spokesman for the Department rejected the IFA's claims, insisting a rise in export refunds would not on its own resuscitate the Egyptian market.
The delegation, led by assistant secretary general Mr Tom Moran and deputy chief veterinary officer Mr Paddy Rogan, was seeking to broaden diplomatic contacts in Egypt. The issue of price was one for the commercial sector and lay beyond the Government's remit, the spokesman said.
One shipment of Irish beef has been dispatched to Egypt since trade recommenced in early summer.