A 681% increase in Brazilian beef imports into Ireland over a ten year period has been described by Mayo TD Paul Lawless as a matter of ‘very significant concern’.
Figures released to Deputy Lawless by the Department of Agriculture showed that in 2016, only 22 tonnes of Brazilian beef were imported into Ireland, but that had climbed to 172 tonnes in 2025. In that, period overall beef imports into Ireland rose 33% from 30,841 tons to 40,977 tons.
The data released to the Aontú TD for Mayo provided a full list of the 68 countries from whom Ireland has imported beef since 2015, with significant increases also recorded in regard to beef imports from Spain, Belgium, Italy, Argentina and the United States. However, beef imports from the Netherlands, Poland and Germany fell in the period.
Speaking today, Deputy Lawless said: “I am concerned that we’ve seen a 33% increase in the quantity of beef imported to Ireland. I’m concerned about the quality of the product, the potential health risks associated with beef from certain other countries.”
“Last year, Ireland imported 40,977 tonnes of beef, valued at almost €288 million. This compares with 30,841 tonnes imported ten years ago in 2016. The amount imported last year is higher than any previous year provided in the data”.
“While a lot of this is coming from Britain, there are nearly seventy countries listed, including countries in Asia, Africa and South America. I think the government needs to clarify what checks and balances are being done on this produce, is it being tested, where is it going, who is consuming it?”
“Irish beef as we all know is second to none. It is a product we should be proud of. As our farmers face the threat of Mercosur we as politicians need to be working twice as hard to support them and to advertise their product and talk up their product both locally and internationally. This country with such a fantastic product and reputation should not be importing 40,000 tonnes of beef from other countries. We should be supporting our own”, the Aontú TD said.
He told Newstalk that the rise in Brazilian beef imports into Ireland was a matter of ‘very significant concern’ – and that the figures revealed a “very significant trajectory” with regards to beef imports.
The reply to Deputy Lawless’s Parliamentary Question revealed that: “In 2025, the United Kingdom was the largest country of origin by volume at 36,948 tonnes, or 90% of total beef imports. Great Britain accounted for 53% or 19,710 tonnes of beef imported from the UK, while Northern Ireland accounted for 47% or 17,238 tonnes. Spain was the second largest country of origin by volume at 871 tonnes, followed by Belgium at 598 tonnes, the Netherlands at 363 tonnes and Poland at 290 tonnes. The remaining 1,907 tonnes of imported beef represented less than 5% of total beef imported to Ireland by volume.”
“For context, in 2025, beef exports from Ireland totalled €3.6 billion, 17% of total agri-food exports by value, and amounted to 458,995 tonnes. Last year, Irish beef reached 70 destinations globally with key markets including the United Kingdom at €1.7 billion, France at €428 million, the Netherlands at €290 million, Italy at €286 million and Germany at €203 million,” the Minister for Agriculture continued.
“Since 2021, beef exports from Ireland have increased by 50% in nominal value terms, from €2.4 billion to a record €3.6 billion in 2025, an increase of over €1 billion. This value growth has occurred despite only a 1% increase in the volume of beef exported during the same period. This reflects a key aim of Food Vision 2030, Ireland’s stakeholder-led strategy for the agri-food sector, which prioritises the development of market opportunities for Irish agri-food both at home and abroad, based on value rather than volume.”
“Looking ahead, the outlook remains positive for the Irish beef sector, with demand for animal protein on international markets increasing with population, urbanisation and affluence. The sector’s export-orientation and reputation for high-quality produce ensures that it is well placed to play a role in meeting this demand.