The European Commission has said it is up to the Irish government to secure sea transport capacity for exporting calves to continental Europe, and that it is "ready to assist" Irish authorities in working out a response.
The commission set out its position in a letter to Brendan Kennedy, a beef farmer in Tipperary, who had written to its Directorate-General for Competition warning that Ireland's link to the continent was at risk after Brittany Ferries withdrew from the live export trade.
The commission acknowledged the importance of "reliable maritime connectivity for island member states", including for trade in live animals, and said the reported withdrawal of a ferry operator may limit the commercial options open to Irish exporters.
Responsibility for maritime connectivity, and for any aid in line with EU law, lies mainly with member states, the letter said. EU rules allow governments to set up public services and pay public service compensation to support such links, but it is for each state to define and organise them.
Independent Ireland MEP Ciaran Mullooly said the letter puts the next step "firmly with the Irish government" and called on ministers to accept the offer of help without delay. "Ireland's growing live export trade cannot be left facing an avoidable gap in ferry capacity," he said.
Kennedy has also lodged a petition with the European Parliament, 'Protect Ireland's live cattle export routes and prevent dependence on a single ferry service', which the petitions committee will examine, a process that may take considerable time.
The report is by Charles O'Donnell for Agriland.
Photo: ŠJů / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Source: Agriland
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