Farmers want ferry firm to transport livestock
It followed a Supreme Court decision to lift a temporary order it made six years ago which has, since then, forced the shipping company to carry livestock from Ireland to the continent.
Pandoro Ltd, a member of the P and O line, complained that those who got the order an association of livestock exporters, hauliers and farmers had failed to bring their action to trial before the High Court.
The company, which carries freight shipments as its core business had wanted to end its shipments of livestock transport in 1997.
Mr Justice Murray, giving the Supreme Court decision, said nothing was done by the livestock exporters to progress their action from August 2000 onwards.
The onus and duty rested with the livestock exporters and they were not entitled to sit back and assume that there was no potential or actual damage to Pandoro when they obtained the benefit of theorder and then did nothing about it.
Pandoro had been prejudiced and restricted in their commercial life since the interlocutory injunction was granted, he said.
IFA president John Dillon said that as an island member of the EU single market, Ireland is uniquely dependent on ferry services.
"A vital national interest is at stake regarding our live export trade, which is essential in terms of market outlets and cattle price competition," he said.
Mr Dillon said he was seeking an immediate meeting with Agriculture and Food Minister Joe Walsh to ensure the continuation of a ferry service for live exports.
More than 2,000 farmers, who attended an IFA rally in Ennis, Co Clare, on Monday night, passed a declaration calling on the Government, the European Commission and the EU Council of Agriculture Ministers to protect the fundamental right of farmers to full market access and maximum cattle price competition through the live export trade, he said
ICMSA president Pat O'Rourke said the Supreme Court decision had given rise to a crisis in the cattle sector.
He said he was demanding an immediate response from the Government on a matter that goes to the very heart of the livestock trade and cattle prices.
Mr O'Rourke said he had written to Taoiseach Bertie Ahern requesting an urgent meeting with him to discuss action to remedy this unprecedented threat to the Irish livestock sector.
