Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 29 January 2019

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Live Exports: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Mr. Rob Doyle:

There was a question on ferries. We engage regularly with the ferry companies because they are a key component of the trade. They are commercial companies and they make commercial decisions. One ferry company has made a commercial decision to sail from Dublin. We have spoken to the company but it feels that overall trade is more advantageous, so it has made the decision. We have also spoken to ferry companies about sailing to other ports in France to try to alleviate the pressure on Cherbourg, but they have said it does not make sense just for livestock trade. They are very focused on their overall business.