Joe Flaherty (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate there are extensive supports in place for business. The nub of the issue affecting these value-added food companies is the fact that before each load departs it has to be signed off by a vet. One of the people I spoke to works for a business involved in frozen food. The company has two plants in Ireland and is a major European company.

According to the company's analysis, 20 additional vets would be needed to scale that up. It is not something the companies can address. I appreciate it is something the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine must resolve. We, as elected representatives, and the Tánaiste's Department must impress upon it that this is an issue that must be resolved. As I pointed out, officials in Rotterdam are insisting on this to the letter of the law. It is a major gateway port for our food producers and we simply cannot countenance a position where our lorries are turned back.