The Department of Agriculture has confirmed an agreement provides for the approval of five Irish plants to begin exports to Egypt once the necessary technical arrangements are in place.

Prior to their ban on EU beef in the late 1990s, it was one of the largest markets for Irish beef – and in total the country has around 95 million consumers.

ICSA beef chairman Edmond Phelan said: “This news is indeed welcome and timely as we need all the markets we can get to facilitate increasing cattle numbers. However, farmers will be keen to see if this move will strengthen beef prices.”