Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
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Question 251: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food her views on the sheep live export trade; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16198/05]

Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 258: 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 current holding period restriction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16363/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 251 and 258 together.

I am always prepared to facilitate trade in live sheep which of course, has to take place in accordance with EU rules governing such intra-Community trade. Trade in sheep between member states of the European Union is subject to the provisions of, inter alia, Council Directive 2003/50/EC, which amends Council Directive 91/68/EEC, as regards reinforced controls on the movement of sheep and goats. These controls, which were introduced in the aftermath of the foot and mouth disease outbreak in 2001, came into effect on 1 July 2004. They 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 had 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 have been introduced on to the holding of origin. Furthermore, in accordance with EU veterinary certification requirements under this directive, all sheep that are exported to another member state must be certified as to their health status by a Department veterinary inspector within 24 hours of departure.

Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
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Question 252: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the steps she intends to take to minimise the burden to farmers of an issue (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16199/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Intra-Community trade regulations require that sheep intended for export must be consigned from the holding of origin or from an approved assembly centre. My Department is prepared to facilitate such trade by approving assembly centres in accordance with the European Communities (Assembly Centres) Regulations 2000, SI 257 of 2000. However, to be approved as an assembly centre, a livestock mart must meet the standards laid down in the aforementioned regulations.

The question as to whether the operators of a livestock mart wish to apply for approval for its use as an assembly centre is a matter for commercial consideration in the first instance. Where a livestock mart is approved to operate as an assembly centre, it may do so only if it is operating solely as an assembly centre on a particular day.