Vol. 492 No. 2
98 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the shipping facilities available to transport cattle to continental Europe from Ireland; if he has received the results of the latest shipment by Irish Ferries Limited when two Department vets accompanied the ship; if the report on the conditions of the trip are available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13814/98]
Following a trial voyage the new Irish Ferries ship, the m.v. Normandy, has been approved by my Department to carry two units of calves and weanlings, with the option of increasing to four livestock units subject to certain conditions. Pandoro is, I understand, continuing to carry some categories of livestock. In addition my Department has recently inspected and approved an airplane for calf transport — a number of flights to the Netherlands have taken place thus far with further flights reserved every day this week.
