The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has no plans to purchase a ship to be used for cattle exports.

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, told Sinn Féin TD, Pat Buckley, that "the intra community trade and export of live animals to third countries from Ireland is a private commercial activity".

But Minister Heydon also added that while the trade is a commercial activity it is regulated by his department in accordance with EU and national regulations.

The minister has said that he believes exports of live animals "play a significant role in stimulating price competition" and also provide an alternative market for farmers.

Irish Ferries is currently the only ferry operator involved in transporting calves from Ireland, following the decision of Brittany Ferries to pull out of transporting calves.

Cattle exports

Separately the Independent TD, Carol Nolan, also asked the minister if DAFM has been asked to approve new roll-on, roll-off vessels for cattle exports from Ireland.

Minister Heydon confirmed that for roll-on, roll-off vessels to be allowed carry vehicles containing live animals out of Ireland they must be approved by his department.

He also told Deputy Nolan that his department "is always ready to assess and approve vessels that might be made available for transport of live animals out of Ireland".

But DAFM does not comment on applications received for approval.

Minister Heydon has repeatedly stressed that Ireland "is a major livestock trading country".

He has pointed to latest DAFM data from January 1 to September 20, 2026 which shows that "some 278,000 bovines were the subject of intra-community trade, or exports to third countries, from Ireland; 203,000 of these bovines were un-weaned calves". 

Nearly two years ago the EU Commission published a legislative proposal for new rules "on the protection of animals during transport" to replace the current EU Regulation.

According to Minister Heydon Ireland "is strongly committed to improving animal welfare standards during transport and supports the revision of the EU Regulation for this sector".