Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

669. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for the delay and complications regarding the export of live cattle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1280/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Applications for the approval of ships for the carriage of cattle by sea must be approved by my Department in accordance with the Diseases of Animals (Carriage of Cattle by Sea) Orders, 1996 and 1998. My Department facilitates the export of live cattle by ensuring that such applications are processed expeditiously. Detailed inspections are required before approval is given to ships transporting animals and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine continues to work with all those involved – including farmers and transporters - to facilitate trade and ensure that all such trade is carried out to the highest animal health and welfare standards.

There are no delays occurring in the approval stage and approvals are issued once all provisions of the legislation are met. Nine applications for approval have been received in total. To date, two ships have been fully approved and seven others have been inspected. Detailed reports have been forwarded to the ship owners listing necessary modifications before approval can be granted by my Department.

With regard to the export of live cattle to the EU, there is already a good system of Roll-On Roll-Off Ferry services bringing livestock trucks from Ireland to France. In addition to this, it has been an aspiration of my Department for some time to have a similar service between Ireland and Great Britain. Following ongoing contact between my Dept and ferry companies, arrangements are at an advanced stage in relation to the approval of a ferry to carry livestock trucks between Ireland and Great Britain. If this comes to fruition, it will give greater flexibility than the current situation whereby livestock trucks have to travel to Larne or Belfast to gain access to Great Britain.