Ms Paula Barry Walsh:

The Minister held a meeting in July at which he said it would be a useful option for exporters to consider. We met industry representatives recently and the proposal was put forward by ourselves. We are very open to whatever model they would want to use for a representative body and we would work with them. In the context of an expansion of their lairage in Cherbourg, a united voice to represent calf exporters would be an advantage. It would also be an advantage to get exporters to talk to each other and to publicise their high welfare standards as well as the investment they have made in the trade to achieve positive animal welfare results. There are advantages to them and not just to the Department.