Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 March 2024
977. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has engaged with any EU officials or lobbied for any measures in relation to excluding sea travel from travel time limits on the export of live animals; if so, the details of these engagements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11733/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has indicated to the EU Commission that it is supportive of the revision of the EU rules on animal welfare during transport, to facilitate the high welfare intracommunity trade and export of live animals to third countries. In that context the Department has engaged with the Commission services pointing out the need to ensure that any new proposed rules ensure that Irish farm businesses have the same access to the European Single Market as similar businesses from all other Member States.
As a peripheral EU island nation Member State, with a long history of and dependency on livestock farming, Ireland has a fundamental interest in ensuring that proposals the Commission bring forward do not disadvantage Ireland vis-à-vis other Member States and that Irish farmers and farm families have the same access to the Single Market as farmers in all other Member States of the Union.
