Vol. 481 No. 4
100 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the current position in relation to the provision of shipping for the live exports of cattle; and if the financial assistance made available for this purpose is being taken up in respect of a particular ship at this stage. [16192/97]
104 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there were 224,000 weanlings in 1997 for the Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim and Roscommon region; the progress, if any, he has made in order to provide a vessel to get weanlings to the European market; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that every £10 reduction in the sale of weanlings and store cattle results in £1 million less in circulation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16267/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 100 and 104 together.
I am aware of the difficulties caused in the Irish livestock sector due to the absence of access to markets on the continent. However, Government assistance is being made available for the operation of a ferry service by Gaelic Ferries on the Cork-Cherbourg route and it is hoped that the first such sailing will take place today.
