Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I refer to the agricultural attachés and their work post-Brexit. They play a really important role, particularly in being able to work and maintain existing markets abroad and work with our export companies to try to develop new markets. They also work very closely with Bord Bia on ensuring the Irish team abroad collaborate and have a clear strategy to try to develop and maintain the markets we have. I will get the Senator a note on the numbers we have. We have been expanding the footprint and will continue to prioritise that in the time ahead. I will get Senator Boyhan exact details and an update on progress in that regard.

The Senator also touched on fisheries, on which the committee and I engaged in depth two weeks ago. While it was very welcome that we avoided a no-deal scenario, Brexit has undoubtedly had an impact on our fisheries sector and the wider economy. It is important that we support the sector and coastal communities in the time ahead. As the Senator pointed out, the Government is committed to investing in them in the time ahead. I am in the process of putting in place a task force to advise on how we can best support the sector immediately and in the years ahead. The work of the task force will very much inform how we go about investing and supporting the sector. I will certainly keep members up to date on progress.

The Senator also referred to the importance of live exports. I concur with him. In parallel, the importance of animal welfare standards was emphasised, not just in respect of live exports but also in respect of the agrifood sector more widely. I concur in this regard also. The Senator referred to the recent publication of Working Together for Animal Welfare - Ireland's Animal Welfare Strategy, which I launched last week. As the Senator and other members know, animal welfare is central to the ethos of our farmers across the country, who take great care of animals. It is essential that the Government and Department make sure there are no exceptions and that there is robust oversight and regulation. All animals must be treated according to the highest welfare standards. That is essential. No more than in any other walk of life, one has to ensure there are no exceptions and that, where there are, there is enforcement. We all agree that Irish farming and agriculture very much value the welfare of animals. It is central to what farmers do but, equally, the Department and I, as Minister, are committed to ensuring there is oversight and that there are no exceptions to the norm. I am committed to robust enforcement if anybody does not maintain animal welfare standards to the level we expect. The strategy I launched last week very much speaks to that.

The live animal trade is an important aspect of our livestock sector, particularly the beef sector. I have engaged closely with the sector over recent months in preparation for the spring period, in particular, which is a really important period for live exports. My officials and I will continue to engage strongly on this to prepare and to make sure the trade is facilitated in every way possible.

Reference was made to the prospect of lairage at Rosslare or elsewhere in County Wexford. The provision of lairage and handing facilities is a matter for the trade itself. It is really important that live exporters work together and collaborate. I encourage them to continue to collaborate on ideas for developing facilitates.

On the progressing of the first chair in animal welfare and veterinary ethics at UCD, my Department has been engaging with the university. It is a really good and important initiative. I will revert to the committee with an update on the timeline for that.