I thank the Chair for allowing me the opportunity to raise the important matter of the provision of adequate ferry space to the UK market in particular. Anyone with an interest in agriculture knows the live trade has been cut to third country markets. There is a market for it in Europe, but that is not facilitated because we do not have adequate ferry facilities. This trade is important because it is a safety valve and it is an insurance against factory cartels. Not alone is a lack of a ferry service a problem, but many farmers believe the Minister is colluding in allowing this problem continue.
As late as today the President of the IFA, Mr. John Donnelly, issued a statement on the collusion by the Minister and the Department on this matter. Its states:
IFA President John Donnelly said today (Wednesday) that he was disgusted and dismayed that the Minister for Agriculture Ivan Yates would preside over the further strangulation of the EU Live Export Trade by introducing a 400kg weight limit on two tier trucks which will effectively ban finished live cattle from the European Market.
Mr. Donnelly called for the immediate lifting of this outrageous imposition on the European Live Export Trade. The IFA President said it was now clear that the Minister and the Department with this latest weight limit rule were "making up the rules as they go along" and were intent on strangling the trade with bureaucracy and red tape.
Given the difficulties resulting from BSE, the cutting off of live trade to third countries and weight limitations on intervention, it is regrettable the facility to provide transport to European markets for our most important industry is stymied not only by the lack of carriers but by red tape and bureaucracy introduced and implemented by the Minister. It is extraordinary that taxpayers here and in the European Union have invested large sums of money in road networks and port developments here and in European Union destinations to facilitate carriers, yet the carriers cherry pick what they will carry. The Government has a responsibility to insist that the carriers cannot do so. The investment has been made for them and it is incumbent on them to ensure that our live trade and our food industry is facilitated. It is a scandal that this important artery to the European Union markets has been cut off to this last remaining island nation of the European Union.
I call on the Minister of State to give an assurance to the House that the carriers will be directed to provide for the transport of live cattle in particular, but also some delicate fresh consumer foods, a trade we have built up during the past few years. Will the Government make a connection between Whitehall and Dublin Port as the ring roads are gridlocked from Whitehall and carriers are delayed for hours? I look forward to the Minister giving us some ray of hope to resolve this difficult problem.