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

I assure the Senator that endeavour will continue and intensify. Bord Bia's engagement in this matter is in partnership with the live exports. I was in north Africa recently on a trade mission which had participants from the live export trade as well as from Bord Bia on the trade delegation. There is that joined-up thinking in respect of the endeavour.

I appreciate we are facing a perfect storm in many respects. The expansion of the dairy herd has brought an increased number of Friesian bull calves, in particular, to the marketplace. The overwhelming trade in the export of calves has been in that space. We also face immediately the challenges associated with Brexit in the form of fluctuations in sterling, which has made it more difficult for the beef sector. This makes it imperative that live export opportunities to any possible location are exploited, bearing in mind our continued commitment, and that of live exporters, to the highest animal welfare standards which are a fundamental foundation stone of that policy as approached by both the exporters and my Department. I again thank the Senator for raising the matter.