Written answers

Tuesday, 25 February 2014

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Live Exports

Photo of Seán KyneSeán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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614. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the export trade in live cattle; if he will provide an update on the registration and licensing of vessels for that trade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9704/14]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I strongly support the development and exploitation of all available markets for Irish meat and livestock exports and, in that context, the resumption of live cattle exports from Ireland to Libya in 2013 was welcome as it provides alternative market outlets for certain categories of livestock, thereby serving a market demand and providing increased competition in the market place for cattle. The markets outside of the EU currently open to the live cattle export trade from Ireland are Egypt, the Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia and Libya.

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, a ferry has recently been approved by my Department for the carriage of livestock between Ireland and Great Britain. The opening of this service is welcome as it gives greater flexibility than the current situation whereby livestock trucks have to travel to Larne or Belfast to gain access to Great Britain.

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.

To date nine applications for approval have been received in total. 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. Five shipments containing cattle and three shipments containing both cattle and sheep have gone to Libya since that market re-opened. In total, 15,836 cattle and 21,443 sheep have been exported to Libya, including 2,500 cattle exported so far this month.

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