During 1998 the roll-on roll-off ferry capacity for the transport of live animals was significantly augmented by the carriage of cattle on designated vessels. There are now 15 such vessels approved by my Department to carry cattle from Ireland. All these vessels can carry cattle to continental Europe, while 11 of them are also approved to carry cattle to the Middle East.
I am very pleased by the resurgence in live exports of cattle in 1998, with up to 170,000 cattle exported from Ireland to the Continent and third countries. There has been a very significant growth in live cattle exports to the Continent, with over 140,000 head exported to this market alone. This is the highest number in years and represents a sixfold increase over exports in 1997.