Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 5 Mar 1997

Vol. 475 No. 8

Adjournment Debate. - Transport and Ferry Services.

Mr. J. Walsh

I thank the Chair for allowing me the opportunity to raise the important matter of the provision of adequate ferry space to the UK market in particular. Anyone with an interest in agriculture knows the live trade has been cut to third country markets. There is a market for it in Europe, but that is not facilitated because we do not have adequate ferry facilities. This trade is important because it is a safety valve and it is an insurance against factory cartels. Not alone is a lack of a ferry service a problem, but many farmers believe the Minister is colluding in allowing this problem continue.

As late as today the President of the IFA, Mr. John Donnelly, issued a statement on the collusion by the Minister and the Department on this matter. Its states:

IFA President John Donnelly said today (Wednesday) that he was disgusted and dismayed that the Minister for Agriculture Ivan Yates would preside over the further strangulation of the EU Live Export Trade by introducing a 400kg weight limit on two tier trucks which will effectively ban finished live cattle from the European Market.

Mr. Donnelly called for the immediate lifting of this outrageous imposition on the European Live Export Trade. The IFA President said it was now clear that the Minister and the Department with this latest weight limit rule were "making up the rules as they go along" and were intent on strangling the trade with bureaucracy and red tape.

Given the difficulties resulting from BSE, the cutting off of live trade to third countries and weight limitations on intervention, it is regrettable the facility to provide transport to European markets for our most important industry is stymied not only by the lack of carriers but by red tape and bureaucracy introduced and implemented by the Minister. It is extraordinary that taxpayers here and in the European Union have invested large sums of money in road networks and port developments here and in European Union destinations to facilitate carriers, yet the carriers cherry pick what they will carry. The Government has a responsibility to insist that the carriers cannot do so. The investment has been made for them and it is incumbent on them to ensure that our live trade and our food industry is facilitated. It is a scandal that this important artery to the European Union markets has been cut off to this last remaining island nation of the European Union.

I call on the Minister of State to give an assurance to the House that the carriers will be directed to provide for the transport of live cattle in particular, but also some delicate fresh consumer foods, a trade we have built up during the past few years. Will the Government make a connection between Whitehall and Dublin Port as the ring roads are gridlocked from Whitehall and carriers are delayed for hours? I look forward to the Minister giving us some ray of hope to resolve this difficult problem.

Mr. Deenihan

I thank Deputy Walsh for raising this matter on the Adjournment. I am aware of the difficulties being caused by the restrictions being placed on live exports from Ireland. In the first place, Irish exporters are being seriously hampered by the restrictions on exporting through the United Kingdom and onwards to the Continent. However, this is an inevitable consequence of the ban on exports from the United Kingdom. Secondly, there are some other restrictions in place which are not justified.

The House will be aware of our commitment to ensuring the highest welfare standards for all animals being transported. It will be recalled that we brought in national rules dealing with the transport of animals in April 1995 in anticipation of EU rules which eventually came into operation throughout the Union from January 1997. Under the rules currently applying, all animals being sent for export are inspected by a veterinary inspector and a certificate of fitness to travel is issued only if the inspector is satisfied that the conditions are satisfactory as far as both the livestock and transport vehicle are concerned. For this purpose, transport vehicles must be approved in accordance with strict criteria and similar controls are applied in the case of transport by ship. These controls include provisions relating to ventilation, drainage and the feeding and watering of animals. On a number of occasions, my Department has refused permission for consignments to travel on the basis of unsuitable transport arrangements.

Having regard to the stringency of these transport conditions, no restriction should be applied to the export of livestock from Ireland, which complies with these conditions as well as the appropriate EU animal health conditions. The livestock should be allowed to travel unhindered to their intended destination.

Regarding ferry services to the Continent, the House will be aware that one company is currently carrying certain categories of live animals. A second ferry company is to resume operations this month and, subject to availability of space, three sailings per week will be available for exports of all categories of livestock. As I indicated, the Minister does not believe that any restrictions should be placed on the export of any category of animal and he will continue his contacts with the company to seek to persuade it to remove this restriction. In this regard, the Minister met representatives of Pandoro today and is confident that a substantial resolution will be achieved on this issue in the near future.

On the approval of ships, new rules on the transport of cattle by sea were introduced by the Minister at the beginning of 1996 following serious concern as a result of a number of incidents which had taken place during the transport of cattle by sea from Ireland. Nine ships with a total capacity of 15,500 animals have now been approved under this legislation while a further two ships have been approved subject to the completion of a number of modifications.

These actions have placed the transport of animals from Ireland on a more secure and defensible footing and in line with our position as a major exporter of live animals. I am satisfied that without these measures the position regarding the export of animals would be far worse than it is at present. The Minister is committed to ensuring that due recognition of these high standards of animal welfare is accorded by all concerned in the animal transport business. He is not in collusion with anyone and I expect he will make a positive announcement on this issue shortly.