Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputies for their questions. The welfare of all animals is a priority for my Department and we continue to engage with stakeholders to ensure the welfare of cattle born on dairy farms next spring is provided for appropriately. Further meetings between my Department and stakeholders are planned over the coming period, well in advance of the peak calving season. Several measures are being taken to ensure high calf welfare standards. Currently, calves may not be moved from their farm of birth or sold until they have reached at least ten days of age. This requirement is being further evaluated. Recognising that the numbers or dairy bull calves being traded in farm-to-farm sales has been falling off in recent years, the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society, ICOS, and the marts are playing a key role in co-ordinating and linking dairy farmers and specialist calf rearers. The Irish Farmers Association, IFA, recently arranged a series of calf health and welfare seminars, while Teagasc and Animal Health Ireland, AHI, are providing further calf care seminars early next spring. A recently compiled AHI calf care booklet has been distributed to all co-operatives, and the Farm Animal Welfare Advisory Council, FAWAC, is finalising a new calf rearing advisory booklet.

My Department has engaged with exporters to ensure the welfare of calves being transported to the Continent and has advised them of updated standards and requirements. Live exports are a critical part of Ireland's livestock industry, stimulating price competition and providing an alternative market outlet for farmers. My Department facilitates this trade, recognising its importance to the agrifood sector, while placing a strong emphasis at all times on the welfare of the animals being transported. In 2018, overall total live exports of cattle, including calves, increased by more than 30% compared with 2017, to 246,000 head. This growth trend has continued into 2019, with live exports already totalling 266,000 up to the week ending 19 October 2019. This increase reflects the incremental growth in the numbers of calves born on dairy farms but is also, in part, a consequence of the decision in 2017 to reduce the veterinary inspection fee payable on live exports of calves aged less than three months from €4.80 to €1.20.

The transport of calves requires the use of lairage facilities at Cherbourg and the development of additional lairage capacity there is a commercial matter for the export sector. However, officials from my Department met their French counterparts in the summer in Cherbourg and, during those discussions, the French authorities indicated that they would be willing to consider applications submitted for additional lairage capacity, should they arise. My officials are in ongoing communication with Irish exporters on the need for co-operative management to ensure that the lairage capacity at Cherbourg is optimised. I have urged the live export sector to consider developing an additional lairage in Cherbourg or engaging with the owners of existing facilities to explore the potential for additional capacity. This has proved possible, as evidenced by the French authorities' approval of an increase in the holding capacity of the Qualivia lairage in Cherbourg earlier this year. My Department worked closely with the French authorities in this matter. The move provided for additional daily capacity for 400 calves, bringing the total daily capacity to 4,400.

I met with exporters in September to discuss and review existing export procedures, and officials from my Department have had continued regular engagement with them. I visited the Netherlands recently with a delegation from An Bord Bia where we met with importers of Irish calves, who expressed strong satisfaction with the quality of Irish calves. Other market opportunities are being explored by An Bord Bia for older male dairy calves. My Department's veterinary inspectorate will continue to undertake its risk-based and random inspections across all industry locations to monitor compliance. I assure Deputies that calf welfare issues are being accorded the highest priority within my Department.

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