Ferry service ‘essential’ to livestock exports

FARMERS called on the Government at the national ploughing championships in Tullow, Co Carlow, yesterday, to ensure that Ireland continues to have a ferry service for live cattle exports which were worth an estimated €150 million last year.

It followed confirmation by the shipping group P&O that it is axing the Rosslare-Cherbourg route which currently services the Irish roll-on-roll-off (ro-ro) live export trade to continental Europe.

The move is part of an overall restructuring by the company with services between England and France being the hardest hit.