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The export of calves is an entirely commercial matter, said Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed in response to concerns about lairage capacity in Cherbourg in France.
Bovines exported from Ireland to France are required under EU law to be rested and fed at lairage facilities in Cherbourg. However, capacity is limited to 4,000 head per day.
The Minister said his Department was a regulator and had no role in the provision of lairage services in other countries.
Department officials were hopeful that the Irish Ferries’ WB Yeats, would run on alternate days with Stena Line’s Horizon, to allow access to French lairages on separate days of the week.
Limit
However, this hope has now been dashed and now there will be a 48,000 calf capacity limit per month in the lairages.
Minister Creed previously told the Irish Farmers Journal the Department was confident there would be the capacity to export in the region of 80,000 calves a month.
In a parliamentary question, Fianna Fáil’s John Brassil asked the Minister why people were informed capacity would be greater than what the current structure allowed.
Minister Creed said: “The function of my department is regulatory in nature, for example through the provision of appropriate animal health certification, or the approval of vessels for the transport of animals to ensure that they comply with animal health and welfare requirements.”
Private operations
He said while there had been significant engagement between his department, the French authorities, lairage owners, exporters and farm bodies, the lairages were privately owned and operated.
Therefore, the provision of lairage capacity in other member states was a matter for commercial operators.
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