Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)
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Question 1083: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the situation on Dursey Island, County Cork, where farmers are being prevented from transporting their cattle to and from the island on cable cars, a practice they used for 40 years, for what the county council describes as health and safety reasons and if, in his view, transporting animals on small boats and swimming them ashore is a safer way of transporting them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17996/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I am aware of the situation in relation to the operation of the cable car to Dursey Island. The operation of the cable car to Dursey Island is the responsibility of Cork County Council. Cork County Council engaged consulting engineers to carry out studies on the cable car servicing Dursey Island following which the transportation of all animals was ceased from 30th January 2012 for a number of reasons, inter alia, health and safety, absence of codes covering transportation of animals and persons in the same cable car and increase of the risk to public health.

I understand that a Group representative of Electoral Area Members of Cork County Council, the farming community, residents and relevant public bodies has prepared a brief for the commissioning of a report on the future of the Dursey Island Cable Car. The onus is on the person transporting animals to conduct the operation in a safe manner. This Department has strict policies in place on the health and welfare of animals including during transport and would not advocate the movement of animals on small boats and swimming them ashore if it endangers the animals or handlers of the animals.