Call for cattle export ban ‘reckless’

CALLS by self-proclaimed animal welfare groups to stop live cattle exports from Ireland were described by the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA) leader Jackie Cahill as reckless.

Compassion in World Farming-Ireland joined a protest against calf exports at Dover Docks in England last weekend. It claimed a significant number of the calves exported through Dover to France and then by road to destinations on the continent are from the Republic of Ireland.

CIWF-UK and Kent against Live Exports, which organised the protest, called for a ban on the export of calves which, they claim, are not suited to long journeys.

However, Mr Cahill said the ICMSA would consider any attempt to stop the live shipping of calves from Ireland as a challenge to the lawful movement of goods in the EU and would resist it to the fullest degree permissible by law.

He said the stock-in-trade of “these un-elected and self-appointed busybodies” was ignorance of the real situation.

Mr Cahill said the transport of live cattle is the most regulated aspect of any trade within the EU or, any aspect of animal welfare. Farmers and exporters in Ireland have an excellent record of compliance with these regulations.

“This is an attempt by a self-appointed pressure group to ‘stir the pot’ on an issue about which they appear to have no knowledge or mandate,’’ he said.