Bord Bia has confirmed in a statement to the Irish Farmers Journal that there is no suggestion that any importer is going to stop purchasing Irish calves next spring.

Roscommon-Galway Independent Michael Fitzmaurice told Tuesday’s committee on agriculture that there are concerns that a buyer in Holland will terminate a contract which sees 4,000 Irish calves exported to the mainland weekly.

Fitzmaurice warned that the loss of the market will create further difficulties for exporter’s post-Brexit.

Several importers

The spokesperson said: “Bord Bia is in close contact with the Dutch veal sector with a meeting held in recent weeks. There are several importers of Irish calves to the Netherlands but none of them would individually purchase 4,000 calves per week.

“In fact, in 2020, there were only five weeks during the spring when total Irish calf exports to the Netherlands exceeded 4,000 head.”

Fitzmaurice also said he had spoken with exporters who informed him that there are difficulties getting claves transported to Spain.

Concerns Dutch buyer of 4,000 Irish calves weekly will axe contract -Fitzmaurice

900 calves to fly to Belgium next spring

No suggestion that Dutch buyers will stop Irish calves purchase next spring

Fitzmaurice warned that the loss of the market will create further difficulties for exporter’s post-Brexit.