Officials to inspect live export licensing

The Competition Authority is “looking into” Irish regulations that affect the export of live cattle from Ireland by boat.

This follows a complaint from Co Clare Labour TD Michael McNamara, who said that because of falling beef prices, he complained to both the European Commission and the Competition Authority.

He told them that licensing of boats from Ireland servicing the live cattle trade is far stricter than in other EU countries, and boats licenced in other EU member states could not operate in Ireland.