Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

262. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on proposals by an organisation (details supplied) to expand lairage capacity at a location. [15785/19]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The relevant EU Council Regulation 1/2005 that deals with the transport of animals specifies that once Irish calves arrive in France, they must be rested at the port of unloading or in its immediate vicinity. The control post in Abbeville referred to in the article is over three and a half hours drive from Cherbourg and cannot therefore be considered in the immediate vicinity of the unloading point. I am supportive of the live trade and I am not prepared to undermine its future by failing to adhere to the relevant animal welfare regulations.

While the provision of additional lairage facilities remains a commercial decision for the private operators involved, my Department remains in close contact with the French authorities in these matters and I welcome the recent increase of 400 spaces approved by those authorities in respect of one of the lairages located in the vicinity of Cherbourg. This amounts to 1,200 additional spaces per week for calves.

The Deputy will also be aware that I reduced the inspection levy on calf exports from €4.80 to €1.20 in early 2017. I should also point out that calf exports in the first three months of this year are up 36% compared to same period in 2017.