I propose to take Questions Nos. 6, 11, 17, 23, 25, 26, 29, 36, 37, 38, 42, 43, 46, 47, 50, 53, 54, 62, 65, 68, 71, 73, 74, 75, 80, 81, 82, 91, 95, 97, 98, 102, 103, 106, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113 and 116 together.
My Department has co-operated fully with live animal exporters on the question of transport facilities.
Any new transport facilities which operators wish to bring on stream will have to meet stringent welfare-related standards. The Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry will continue to co-operate fully with such operators in the evaluation and approval of facilities.
Animals continue to be exported to the Continent and progress has been made in putting in place alternative transport arrangements. There is no evidence that there has been a deterioration in prices attributable to the decision of some ferry operators to withdraw their livestock shipping services.