Mr. Paddy Gernon:

I thank the Chairman and members for inviting me to address the committee. I take this opportunity to thank Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív for his work in regard to shipping. I did not realise the extent of his efforts in this area.

The livestock export business is one of the longest-standing export trades in Ireland. Until the mid-1960s, the trade was mainly from Dublin to Holyhead, Birkenhead, Preston, Silloth and Glasgow. At about the same time, the first consignment was exported to Egypt under a contract for 10,000 young bulls. This was the forerunner of the north African trade which continued for a good many years.

The roll-on-roll-off business to France started with Irish Ferries in the mid-1980s and its service to Le Havre. Later on, Irish Ferries and Stena Line accepted livestock to Pembroke and Fishguard, respectively. P&O Ferries commenced a service at the beginning of the 1990s which could carry nine units of livestock. That company also carried Irish livestock from Dover to Calais, which were shipped from Rosslare by Stena Line and Irish Ferries. In June 1997, due to pressure from animal rights groups, P&O Ferries discontinued carriage of all Irish livestock. An action taken subsequently by a group of exporters to seek an injunction against P&O Ferries was dismissed by the High Court. This was further appealed to the Supreme Court and was overturned pending a full hearing which was later lost. Two other shipping companies then attempted to cater for the trade from Ringaskiddy Port but both failed.

P&O Ferries went on to sell its business to Celtic Link Ferries, which bought a larger ship catering for 20 units on three weekly sailings. Celtic Link Ferries sold its business to Stena Line this month. Since 1997, Stena Line has consistently refused to carry livestock on its routes from Rosslare to Fishguard and Dublin to Holyhead. Irish Ferries has stopped carrying livestock on its ships since the foot and mouth disease outbreak in 2001. As a consequence of all of this, exporters have been forced to go from Larne to Cairnryan, with livestock having subsequently to travel for up to ten hours to their destination in England.

This month, following pressure from the Irish Farmers Association and the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association, Stena Line has agreed to resume a service for livestock from Rosslare to Fishguard at a cost of €900 for a 16.5 m truck. This is some €550 more expensive than the company's Belfast to Cairnryan sailing. The most convenient route for livestock destined for both the north and south of England is, of course, Dublin to Holyhead. Both Irish Ferries and Stena Line refuse to consider this route, however, resulting in animals having to endure up to an additional ten hours longer in transit. The trade is mainly in in-calf heifers and my appeal for the reopening of the Dublin-Holyhead route is on welfare grounds. Since Stena Line reopened the Rosslare-Fishguard route, the animals are arriving in excellent condition, but that is only of benefit to Welsh importers.