John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 8: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the steps she will take to facilitate the live export of lambs to the UK and France; if she will address the holding period restriction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37710/05]

John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I am always prepared to facilitate trade in live sheep, which is subject to EU rules governing intra-community trade. Trade in sheep between member states of the European Union is subject to the provisions of Council Directive 91/68/EEC as amended, as regards reinforced controls on the movement of sheep and goats.

These controls provide as a minimum requirement that breeding and fattening sheep must be certified as having been continuously resident on a holding for at least 30 days prior to export and that no sheep or goats have been introduced on to the holding in the 21 days prior to export.

Slaughter sheep must also be certified as having been continuously resident on the holding of origin for at least 21 days prior to export and are also subject to a standstill period of 21 days prior to dispatch during which no sheep or goats have been introduced on to the holding of origin.

These controls were introduced in the aftermath of the foot and mouth outbreak in 2001 and came into effect on 1 July 2004. I was aware that there were certain difficulties with these certification requirements because the information in respect of which the official veterinarian was being required to certify could only be truly known to the farmer. Accordingly, my Department raised the matter with the European Commission in an effort to arrive at a certification procedure that best meets the concerns of farmers and exporters while, at the same time, protecting animal health. I am pleased that, in response to our approach, the European Commission submitted proposals to amend these certification requirements to allow the official veterinarian to issue certification based on a written declaration by the farmer or on an examination of the flock register and movement documents. The proposals providing for these new arrangements were agreed to unanimously by the standing committee on the food chain and animal health on 11 November 2005 and will apply from 15 February 2006. I am confident they will resolve most of the outstanding difficulties in relation to certification of exports of sheep to France and the United Kingdom.

While I am happy to facilitate live sheep exports in any way possible, securing outlets and the supply and availability of transport for the carriage of livestock is a commercial matter and does not come within the remit of my Department.

Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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I do not know how I am going to work that one out, but I will take it as being a positive response. Perhaps, rather than reading the prepared response, the Minister of State would explain, in plain English, what that means from February of next year.

In the context of the import and export of sheep, a major issue that has arisen is that of having an all-Ireland animal health regime so that there would not be the possibility of sheep coming from the United Kingdom, via Northern Ireland, into the Republic. This is a genuine concern of farmers. I ask the Minister of State to clarify the situation in that regard and to give assurances that there are no sheep coming from Wales and Scotland, being re-branded as Northern Irish sheep and then making their way across the Border. There seems to be an enormous number of sheep north of the Border.

John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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In simple language, the Minister and I had a number of meetings with the IFA, sheep exporters and others, who pointed out the difficulties in respect of the residency and standstill requirements, which the veterinarian had to sign off on. Now the veterinarian will not have to sign off and the declaration of the farmer involved will be acceptable. The Commission has accepted that, it has gone before the standing committee and will apply from 15 February 2006. The exporters and farm organisations seem to be reasonably happy with that.

In terms of figures, 35,000 sheep were exported in 2003, 58,000 in 2004 and to date this year, the figure is 88,000. Our officials are working on the issue of the all-Ireland agreement, which has proved reasonably difficult. However, we are continuing to try to bring about an arrangement where we will have an all-Ireland agreement in place.

Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Regarding the discussions on the all-Ireland agreement, does the Minister of State believe the animal remedies regime in this country will cause difficulties and prevent agreement?

John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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No.

Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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I will hold the Minister of State to that.