The matter I raise this evening is one of enormous importance to our agricultural industry, the export of livestock. I suspect the Minister is already well aware of the serious difficulties being experienced by Irish livestock transport companies arising out of the decision by P & O shipping line and Sealink to cease transporting livestock from Ireland.
I call on the Minister to enter into serious discussions with those companies with a view to resolving the difficulties and restoring the essential shipping service, particularly the direct service to the Continent. As I understand the position, the only shipping company now offering a service to livestock transport companies out of Ireland is the B & I shipping company which operates two sailings daily, seven days per week, but only from Rosslare to Pembroke. The ongoing journey to the Continent is from Dover to Zeebrugge.
Irish transport companies which have traditionally carried young breeding stock to the Continent are being denied a direct sea line from Ireland to France by P & O. This is having very serious consequences for the livestock industry. P & O operates a freight service three days weekly from Rosslare to Cherbourg, which route was used extensively by Irish transport companies; I understand that ten to 12 containers of livestock would travel on each of those sailings.P & O is now refusing to carry livestock containers on this route. Ironically, it appears it is prepared to transport cattle, mostly pedigree, from Cherbourg back to Ireland. Furthermore, I understand that P & O accepts livestock from Northern Ireland to Great Britain and from England on to Belgium. Therefore, it appears that Irish exporters are being severely victimised by P & O.
The loss of a direct sea route between Ireland and France is causing severe financial problems for people in the industry and is adding enormously to the animals' stress, the only route available being the B & I one between Rosslare and Pembroke, which means the animals have a very long journey before reaching their continental destination. Advantage of this position has been taken by the company that transports them from the English port of Dover to Zeebrugge, which happens to be P & O. I understand that company has increased its charges so that the rate for the overall route has increased to £900 per livestock container from a previous overall cost of £560.
Sealink, which operates a service from Rosslare to Fishguard and from Dún Laoghaire to Holyhead, also refuses to carry livestock containers on these routes. There is the added threat that Sealink may be about to receive a £40 million European grant to develop their port at Holyhead, turning it into the number one Euro route to the Continent.It is possible that they foresee livestock becoming a hindrance to this development because of recent protests against livestock transport, with the inherent danger they may use their influence to stop Irish Ferries carrying livestock on this route. Dublin to Holyhead has been a vital route over several decades for livestock en route to Europe.
The livestock trade is a vital part of our agricultural industry and a certain level of livestock exports is essential to maintain the viablity of that industry. I call on the Minister to take immediate action to resolve this problem at the earliest possible date. I hope he will be able to inform the House this evening of the steps he is taking to resolve this difficulty. It is difficult to understand why P & O should victimise Irish livestock exporters to continental Europe. I appeal to the Minister to do everything possible to reinstate the direct route from Rosslare to Cherbourg.
