The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, is expected to meet a delegation of officials from Libya on a diplomatic and trade mission. They are here to meet Department of Agriculture and Department of Foreign Affairs officials.
Last Wednesday the delegation, led by Mr Ahmed ElAtrish, a senior official of the Libyan Department of Foreign Affairs who was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, met the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Walsh. They discussed the reopening of the live cattle trade. It was suspended in March, 1996, when a possible link between BSE and nvCJD was announced in Britain. Over the previous 10 years Libya had been importing up to £70 million worth of Irish animals annually. It is currently being supplied from Australia.
Last Wednesday, the Minister said he was confident the health status of the Irish herd was sufficient to meet the requirements of the Libyan market.
Yesterday, the delegation met the Irish Farmers' Association, which later called for the opening of a permanent Libyan Trade Office in Dublin.
Mr Tom Parlon, the IFA president, called on the Government to make an all-out effort to secure agreement to restart the trade which could take up to 90,000 cattle off the Irish market annually.
Mr Parlon added that he knew from his recent visit to Libya that the authorities there were satisfied with the disease control in the State and they had a preference for Irish cattle over other imports.
Yesterday, the delegation visited the national laboratories in Abbotstown, Co Dublin, where tests are carried out to determine whether animals have BSE.
It was learned yesterday that there have been two new cases of the disease this month. One of the cows involved came from Co Mayo, the first case of BSE in the county.
This is the 36th case so far this year but it is four fewer than last July. The official figures for the month are due out on Thursday.