asked he Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when he will allow the export of live cattle to recommence from Greenore Port, County Louth, if not, the alternative, if any, he will provide for the farmer-owners of more than 4,000 cattle that had been contracted to be exported from Greenore this week.
Private Notice Question. - Greenore (Louth) Port Facilities.
An inspection of the facilities relating to the export of live cattle at Greenore will be carried out tomorrow. On the basis that the owners of the port are prepared to carry out quickly the necessary improvements, the official certification service can be resumed at a very early date, possibly next week. There are other ports in the country with well established facilities for the export of live cattle and substantial numbers of animals are being exported from these ports.
Of course, producers also have the alternative of disposing of their animals to beef slaughtering plants.
This is unsatisfactory. The port was closed at short notice. Exporters had entered into contracts with farmers and they expected the cattle to be moved this week. Egyptian buyers are on the lookout here for cattle. The closure of the port, through which 110,000 cattle were exported last year, caused distress to farmers. Can the Minister say exactly when the port will reopen?
The Deputy will appreciate that it is in the long term interest of the livestock industry to have port facilities up to the required standard. There are serious welfare considerations in relation to the live export of animals.
There was consternation locally at what happened. Were the port authorities notified of the decision to suspend veterinary inspections at the port? When was the notification conveyed?
I do not have any indication as to what discussions, if any, took place between departmental officials and the owners of the port. As Deputy Crawford stated, a large number of cattle have been exported through the port. My officials are having immediate contact with the owners of the port in an effort to get a commitment that the facilities will be upgraded. If we get that verbal commitment from them we will carry out the inspections which will enable the export of live cattle to resume.
If this happens again will due warning be given? There is a boat waiting in the port to be loaded. It is unsatisfactory for people in Monaghan to have to export their cattle through Waterford.
I accept that there will be some short term difficulties for people who have cattle ready for export but it is very much in the interests of the industry that we streamline these facilities and bring them up to the required standard. The short term disadvantage will be more than offset by the increased use of that port for livestock exports.