Kevin O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the witnesses. I come from an area that depends greatly on the live export trade. At this time of year, we are coming into the peak calving season. I have watched today's proceedings closely. The issue of lairage has been touched on but I want to ask about the following. Exporters agreed to the 12 hour rest period to let calves get nourishment and a chance to lie down and rest. Afterwards, there is a journey of ten to 20 hours. Why are we worried about giving calves such a long rest? Does the calf need 12 hours rest? There is a contradiction in that the calf can then be sent on a 20 hour journey on an empty stomach, to be blunt. Do we need the 12 hours or could we get out of the lairage after five or six hours? In that case, the calf's welfare would be better maintained in that it would at least have some bit of nourishment rather than to travel on an empty stomach after 12 hours. That could increase the turnover. Could we allow livestock to move sooner than 12 hours? Do we need the 12 hours? Is it right to have 12 hours? Even the animal welfare people must understand that to give calves 12 hours lying down and then load them into a cattle box to travel on an empty stomach is a contradiction. Should we not allow the animal to move within five or six hours? If one travels to Australia and has to stop over in the Middle East, one is happy to get out and walk around for a couple of hours before getting on the flight again. One does not want to be hanging around but would rather keep the show going.