Agri-Business
The RSA has confirmed that it took part in a recent enforcement operation in Cherbourg, France which involved Irish livestock hauliers.
Hauliers may be forced to cease the transport of livestock if targeted inspections continue,...
Independent Ireland leader Michael Collins said Irish livestock hauliers feel they are being targeted for additional inspections at ports.
Beef
Ferry companies sailing from Ireland to Cherbourg, have confirmed they will not bring livestock lorries on sailings scheduled for this week.
The European Parliament is set to host a debate and vote on the transport of live animals before the end of this month, January 2022.
The capacity for livestock shipping from Rosslare has been reduced after Stena Line changed the ship that normally serves the Cherbourg route.
Two major shipping companies are set to boost their freight capacity from Ireland to France in the coming weeks.
Stena Line will add an additional freight-only vessel to its Rosslare to Cherbourg route from January 4, 2021, the firm has announced.
The Dublin-Cherbourg and Rosslare-Cherbourg routes have been included in emergency Government funding for continued ferry services.
One of the lairage facilities at the French port of Cherbourg has been approved to take 2,700 calves by French veterinary authorities.
One of the lairage operators at Cherbourg will have the capacity to receive an additional 1,200 calves per sailing from next week.
Dairy
French authorities have given the go-ahead for the expansion of lairage facilities in Cherbourg for an extra 600 calves, the IFA says.
Additional calf lairage facilities to provide space for up to 800 extra calves is looking increasingly likely in Cherbourg.
Building a good relationship with lairage operators in Cherbourg is crucial to secure additional capacity, according to the IFA.
Bord Bia is continuing talks with the operators of the two lairage facilities in the northern French port of Cherbourg.
Agri Politics
Department officials are in "on-going communication" with Irish exporters to ensure that the lairage capacity at Cherbourg is optimised.
Minister Michael Creed has once again reiterated his condemnation "in the strongest terms" of any ill treatment of livestock.
