Mr. Rob Doyle:

The border crossing between Bulgaria and Turkey - essentially it is the only border crossing at which cattle can be cleared - is particularly difficult.

There are different operating hours on the Turkish and Bulgarian sides. Welfare organisations have paid significant attention to what happens at that border crossing and there have been multiple reports of animal welfare violations, including of cattle being held for long periods without water in areas with very high temperatures. The risk to the animals and the reputational risk to Ireland are simply too great for us to approve the transport of animals on that route.