Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

Following the outbreak of BSE the export of live cattle from, or its transit through, the United Kingdom was prohibited by virtue of Commission Decision of 27 March 1996. Given the possibility that there would be no direct access to continental markets after the withdrawal of the P&O ro-ro service between Rosslare and Cherbourg, I requested Commissioner Byrne late last year to submit a proposal for the re-opening of the UK land bridge for Irish exports. This request was granted.

This matter was the subject of discussions between officials of my Department, the European Commission and the United Kingdom concerning the practical steps needed to give effect to this decision, and in particular to the controls necessary to guarantee the integrity of the consignments being transported by this route. A majority vote in favour of a Commission proposal to provide a legal basis for Irish cattle transporters to transit the United Kingdom was secured at the Standing Committee of the Food Chain and Animal Health on 17 December 2004. The necessary formal decision of the Commission is awaited.

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