Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the representatives for their contributions. It has been very interesting. I have a couple of questions. One relates to the dairy industry and an issue that has been mentioned already. The growth in the dairy industry is obviously creating a problem in terms of live exports as calves that are surplus to requirements are moved out. How much of an impact is that having? Dr. Paula Barry Walsh said that live exports play a significant role in stimulating price competition. If live export capacity is taken up dealing with calves from the dairy industry, the price competition aspect of the live export trade will be undermined. That is a negative step. How do the representatives see that issue being worked out through the process over the coming years?

Ms Barry Walsh also said in her contribution that exporting to Turkey by road was stopped as a result of welfare concerns arising from delays at the border. Will any similar delays arise here as a result of the dreaded Brexit, which comes into everything? Will there be any similar concerns in respect of delays at points of export that might arise after Brexit? How would that be dealt with? What are the Department's intentions in that regard?

A focus on Libya came up fairly often in Ms Barry Walsh's contribution. With which government in Libya have we done these deals? That might have an impact. Does the Department monitor where live trade animals go, especially in respect of countries such as Libya which are war-torn at the moment? I would be interested in hearing about that.

In Ms Barry Walsh's presentation, she also mentioned that the price for inspections was reduced from €4.80 to €1.20. That is a very significant reduction in price. Does that have any impact on the actual examination of cattle which takes place? If not, why was the price so high in the first place? Perhaps it is a signal relating to increased trade that this fee has been reduced. If that were the case it would mean the Department is also playing a role in impacting on trade.

Ms Barry Walsh also mentioned that the Department does checks on health grounds and so on. How many animals have been stopped on health grounds in the last year? I know the Department has given figures as to how many have been exported, but have any been stopped on health grounds?