THE Minister for Agriculture, Mr Yates, last night expressed "serious concern" over exports of beef and cattle to non EU countries, which are estimated to be worth £400 million this year.
It emerged yesterday that dramatic efforts were made last week and over the weekend by Department officials and the Minister to protect the markets because of the rising incidence of BSE here.
As the Department announced yet another three cases of the disease, bringing the number of cases so far this year to 72, it was learned that senior veterinary inspectors had travelled to Egypt to reassure the Egyptians that Irish beef is safe.
The Minister also spoke on the phone with his opposite number in Egypt, which is a key market for Ireland and the only non EU country to purchase live animals from here.
This year the trade in beef and cattle is expected to be worth £35 million, just over half of last year's £65 million.
When the BSE crisis broke in March the Egyptians banned imports of Irish cattle and a large number of animals were stranded in ships off Egyptian ports, pending resolution of the problem. The Taoiseach, Mr Bruton, intervened directly with President Mubarak to allow the animals ashore.
Later in the year, after intense diplomatic and veterinary activity, the market was re-opened and this was hailed as a major breakthrough because of Egypt's influential role in the Arab world.
However, in recent weeks, with a number of new cases of BSE and, according to trade sources, black propaganda from trade rivals, the Egyptians have been raising concerns about the safety of Irish beef.
This culminated last week with the top delegation of Irish vets visiting Cairo and with the communications between Mr Yates and the Egyptian Minister for Agriculture.
Last night it was learned that the Egyptians will continue to take Irish beef and live cattle for the time being and Mr Yates's role was praised by traders, who said his work had been pivotal in keeping the market open.
The live trade to Egypt has been instrumental in keeping cattle prices at a reasonably high level, because factories had to compete with the live shippers for animals to fill the Egyptian quotas.
The three new latest cases of BSE were found in Donegal, Meath and Monaghan and brings to 187 the total number of cases in the Republic Ireland since 1989.
The Donegal case was found in a six year old cow in a small herd of three animals the Meath case in a five year old cow in a herd of 399 animals and the Monaghan case in a four year old cow in a herd of IS.
Earlier this year the Russians banned meat imports from Cork, Tipperary and Monaghan and they will review their attitude to other counties in the middle of next month.