asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether he has any plans to improve cattle shipping facilities to Britain and Europe; and if he will make a statement on the recent difficulties regarding the shipment of cattle to Italy.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cattle Shipping Facilities.
72.
Mr. O'Donnell
The extent and frequency of the shipping services provided for the conveyance of cattle is a matter primarily for the initiative of shipowners and other commercial interests concerned, in the same way as shipping services for the carriage of goods, vehicles and passengers.
Cattle services to Britain are, at present, provided by privately-owned shipping lines and by the Irish Livestock Transport Company, formed in 1970 by the B & I Company and British Rail.
The objective of this consortium, which has two representatives of the cattle trade on its board, was to ensure the continued availability on an economic basis of adequate facilities for the shipment of cattle to Britain. In setting up the consortium, the two companies envisaged that their joint services would continue in operation up to 1975, with the option to extend this period for a further five years if, after review, this seemed warranted.
Despite the extensive shipping and lairage facilities provided by the consortium, it has not, to-date, been supported adequately by the trade and the needs of exporters of cattle to Britain are being met to an increasing degree by the private shipping operators. The latter now handle the major portion of cattle traffic to Britain, with the result that the facilities and vessels of the B & I and British Rail are very much under-utilised and the numbers of cattle handled by the consortium fall well below the minimum level at which operations would be financially self-supporting.
The B & I Company and British Rail have informed the Government Ministers concerned, both here and in Britain, that they are undertaking a radical review of the whole future of their cattle-carrying services and the matter is being further examined. No changes will, however, be made without full consultation with the Government Departments concerned.
The shipment of cattle to Continental Europe is conducted entirely by private shipowners and exporters, and there is no involvement by the B & I Company. No complaints of shortage of shipping for cattle to Continental destinations have been received in my Department. However, there are no regular scheduled livestock services to the Continent, and as a result, some instances have arisen of delays to shipments of individual lots of cattle to Italy. I also understand that arrangements have been made by some of the interested exporters to charter a number of vessels to cater for future planned exports to that country.
Mr. O'Donnell
I should like to ask the Minister whether in view of our forthcoming entry into EEC and the vital importance of having adequate transport services with the mainland of Europe, and particularly in the light of the unpleasant experience we had this year in regard to the Rosslare-Le Havre car ferry which cost the tourist industry a considerable amount of money, he would not agree that it is vitally important now that a two-stage shipping company, the B & I and Irish Shipping, should be geared to ensure that there will be adequate freight and passenger services between Ireland and the Continent and that this is vital to our future in EEC?
That has all been settled in regard to passengers and freight but the question relates to cattle which is a different matter because of the heretofore indeterminate nature of cattle shipments to the Continent, but if the situation develops as it appears to be developing, certainly what the Deputy suggests is feasible.
Mr. O'Donnell
There is no use in having the product if——
Yes, but this is already being done in regard to regular freight services to Rotterdam from both Cork and Dublin and across Britain into Continental Europe on the overland routes. This relates to freight and passengers but the question relates to live cattle.
Mr. O'Donnell
May we take it that the B & I and Irish Shipping will play an increasing role in this type of operation in future?
Yes, so long as it is reasonably economic, certainly.