An additional 800 calf lairage spaces could be installed at Cherbourg without compromising best standards, according to IFA dairy chair Tom Phelan.

He is hopeful the operators will go ahead with an 18% increase in capacity, which would be available for each of the three sailings per week from Ireland.

IFA, ICOS and ICMSA visit Cherbourg this week to try make progress on dairy calf exports next spring.