Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 317: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will give advice or help to a person (details supplied) in County Cork to find a way of importing breeding stock, both male and female, to this country from the UK; her views on whether there is a sizable import of goat's milk to this country; if it is the Government's wish to see diversification in rural Ireland; the reason it is so easy to carry horses on ferries both in and out of the country, and yet a small car trailer full of goats cannot be carried; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7543/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The movement of livestock between member states of the European Union is governed inter alia by Council Directive 91/628/EEC. This directive obliges member states to ensure that livestock are not transported in a manner that compromises their health or welfare. My Department has, over a period of time, introduced comprehensive national legislation to ensure this requirement is respected in regard to the transport of animals from Ireland.

The question of whether a ferry company is approved to transport animals from another member state into this country is a matter for the competent authority in the member state of origin. There is no legal obligation on ferry operators to carry livestock. Ferry companies operate on a commercial basis and it is a matter for operators to decide if they want to carry livestock and which categories they will carry.

Statistics on imports of goat's milk are not maintained centrally by my Department or in a manner to reply to the Deputy's question. The Government supports the idea of diversification both on-farm and off-farm in rural Ireland.