I can confirm that a consignment of bovine animals left an Irish port by dedicated livestock vessel, as per details supplied, destined for Israel. There is currently no restriction in place on trade with Israel.
In June, the armed group Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed that in conjunction with Houthi rebels it had carried out attacks on a number of vessels in the Mediterranean Sea, including the dedicated livestock vessel identified in the details supplied. However there has been no verification of this and representatives of the identified ship’s operating company have stated that no such attack had taken place and its vessel had proceeded to its destination where the animals were unloaded as normal.
My Department is responsible for regulating trade in live animals, in line with existing EU and National legislation. Animals exported to third countries from Ireland must be transported in compliance with EU animal welfare rules, and when being transported by sea, with Ireland’s national rules for sea transport of livestock which go beyond EU rules.
Each loading of livestock onto dedicated vessels for export to non-EU countries is monitored and supervised by a team of experienced Department officials through a system of official controls, including advance checks of paperwork, weather along the proposed journey and of all animals before they travel. Transporters intending to ship animals to third countries during the hot summer months must fully satisfy my Department that they can at all material times adequately safeguard the welfare of animals being transported in high temperatures.
The consignments referred to in your correspondence of 9th July 2024 underwent the required level of supervision and control as outlined above.