Joe Flaherty (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Many of the country's leading value-added food producers are increasingly concerned about likely threats and implications of the high-level border operating model for products of animal origin. We are fortunate to have a number of these significant employers based in County Longford. A number of those enterprises have sister facilities in the UK so are already well aware of the shortcomings with this system and have flagged some of their concerns in recent months.

At the core of the stipulations to come into effect from 1 October is a requirement for a veterinary surgeon to be present at the plant and confirm and sign off as each load is despatched from the plant. Many of theses enterprises work six or seven days a week, running 24-hour operations in real time with trucks leaving the plant with a short window, in most instances, to make their ferry connection. Based on their experiences in England, some businesses have seen an impact on their business model in the region of six figures in quarter 1 this year. A number of businesses are engaging with the office of the chief veterinary officer and this has been a very positive engagement. In order for the process to work as currently envisaged, it would require the employment of scores of additional veterinary surgeons across the country to ensure compliance. There have been suggestions that technical officers could be brought in to supervise the loading and, at a later stage in the day, the vet would come in and sign these off; however, a number of the companies I am speaking to have highlighted that this will not work and some of the port authorities they intend to travel through are enforcing the regulations to the letter of the law. France is operating a light touch but in Rotterdam, it is enforced to the letter of the law. There is a concern that when our trucks arrive in Rotterdam they will be turned back unless complying with regulations to the letter.

I understand there has been engagement between officials from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment but I am in no doubt it will require input from the Minister of State. We urgently need to see movement on a solution for this issue. I know the Minister of State and his officials will work assiduously with both Departments to ensure some of our blue-chip food producers and most significant employers are not adversely affected.

I had an opportunity to raise the matter with An Tánaiste at the enterprise committee this morning. He is well aware of the issues and I was pleased to see that. I am hopeful he will work towards a resolution. I have also been in contact with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy McConalogue. One of the significant employers I referenced has extended an invitation to that Minister to come to the plant in Longford and see in real time how this may, and most likely will, impact on them unless we find a resolution.

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