The Department of Agriculture is coming under increasing pressure from the farm organisations to deliver on its assertion that the beef trade with Egypt is about to resume.
Since the announcement by the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Walsh, that the market would be reopened on October 7th no Irish beef has been exported.
This is because the Egyptian authorities have not issued contracts for product, which has caused growing frustration in beef production and processing circles here.
The farm organisations want to see more than the political opening of the market and fear a build up of surplus cattle, which would mean a decline in prices.
It is estimated that more than 400,000 cattle are nearing the end of the production cycle, for which there will be no outlet especially as the weather disimproves and grass becomes scarce.
A Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development spokesman said yesterday its officials would continue to work flat out on the issue until the matter was resolved.
Of primary concern to farmers is the demand from the Egyptian authorities that the cattle they buy will be under 24 months. Irish cattle are normally finished at about 30 months.
Mr Martin Coughlin, of the Irish Creamary Milk Suppliers' Association, representing cattle and sheep farmers, criticised the Department yesterday and said it now appeared unlikely that any trade with Egypt would take place before Christmas.
He said the Department of Agriculture had a major task on its hands to convince the Egyptians to take beef which was over 24 months. Ireland, he said, had more than adequate markets for the small percentage of cattle finished under 24 months.
He accused the Government of over-selling the reopening of the Egyptian market and said it was important that the Department renew its efforts to sell older animals to the Egyptians.
The feast of Ramadan, when Muslims fast for 40 days, begins this year on November 17th and traditionally little trading occurs in this period.
Meanwhile, controls on the movement of animals brought in to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth disease will remain in place until December 31st.
The Minister, Mr Walsh, announced the extension of the regulations yesterday because of the continuing problems in Britain.
He said he would be consulting the Northern Minister, Ms Br∅d Rodgers, with a view to moving forward on revised animal health and disease-control measures in an all-Ireland context.