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

The best investment we can make to ensure the continuation of live exports is to underpin this endeavour with high welfare standards. I have emphasised that in all my engagement with various stakeholders, including farm and co-operative leaders and others involved in the export of these animals. In that context, we have introduced revised regulations which improve welfare standards for calves being exported, including by requiring more space to be available on trucks among other measures. That is an important factor in reassuring the market destinations of these calves. I most recently visited the Netherlands on this issue and have also engaged with people in Spain who buy these calves. They are very satisfied with the current standard but, obviously, we need to constantly reassure them. In essence, primary responsibility rests with dairy farmers to ensure the welfare of calves and that they are complying with the law. There are random inspections at marts and on farms to ensure compliance with the regulations. Those inspections will be stepped up according to risk-based analysis in the context of peak calving in spring etc., which is important.

On cross-breeds, there is a danger of talking ourselves into a difficulty. We developed the dairy beef breed index specifically to give greater certainty to farmers on what they are getting when they buy a calf in the calf ring. That is important in respect of the breeding decisions being made by dairy farmers and ensuring the progeny has a realistic prospect of delivering economically for the purchasing farmer. There has been an increase in the use of those sires in the most recent breeding season and we need to accelerate that. Although I take the points made by the Deputy regarding Jersey calves, it is possible to over-emphasise the extent to which that is prevalent within the herd.

This issue requires a multifaceted response. We have engaged with all the various stakeholders and I am confident that, as in previous years, if everybody pulls their weight, we will be able to deal with any issues arising in spring 2020.

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