asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he is aware that the Irish Livestock Exporters and Traders Association were very critical of the cattle shipping service provided by the B & I line; if he has received complaints in this matter; and what steps are being taken to meet these complaints and to improve the situation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cattle Shipping Facilities.
210.
Following representations made to me by the Irish Livestock Exporters and Traders Association I recently had a very full discussion with representatives of the association about cattle shipping facilities generally and, in particular, the role of the B & I Company in the matter.
As regards the role of the B & I Company, I must emphasise that the company is providing a regular livestock service between Dublin and Birkenhead. They are prepared to guarantee a weekly capacity of 6,000 head of cattle which is well in excess of current demand. In recent years the company have sustained heavy financial losses on their livestock carrying and a further heavy loss in this sector is predicted for this year. The rates being charged by the company are not sufficient, even with a greater utilisation of the service, to obviate substantial losses. The company are under a mandate to operate on a strictly commercial basis and have no funds which would enable them to continue to subsidise the livestock sector of their business. They are in direct competition with British Rail with whom they have been conducting discussions for some time past with a view to devising some scheme of rationalisation of the crosschannel cattle transport business. These discussions are nearing completion.
The long-term solution of the cattle shipment problem requires the provision of necessary shipping capacity on a regular basis which will be sufficiently remunerative to the shipping interests to enable them to guarantee the provision of the necessary ships and the onward transport capacity in Britain. The issues involved are receiving the attention of the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries in consultation with the various organisations representing the cattle trade, the port authorities and, of course, the shipping companies concerned. I am in close contact with the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries on these long-term aspects of the matter. For my own part, I am strongly of the opinion that any long-term solution of the problem must necessarily be based on co-operation between the shipping companies concerned and the livestock trade.
Has the Minister considered also the necessity of having proper railway carriages available at the other end, in England, to carry the cattle to their destination, or is he satisfied these facilities are adequate at present?
I am dissatisfied with the whole situation at the present time and we are engaged in detailed consultation between British Rail, B & I, my Department and the other organisations involved, with a view to rationalising the situation.