Major industry feels marooned
The threat that looms over Ireland's live export trade is of such a serious nature that alarm should extend far beyond organisations like our own.
Should Pandoro cease to take the trade, without a suitable replacement ferry company, millions of euro will disappear from rural economies.
ICMSA has calculated the potential loss on a county-by-county basis and will gladly supply details to interested parties. A trend is clear from those same figures: the counties that will be most affected by the collapse of the live export trade are, primarily, those on the western seaboard and those in the border region. These are the farming communities located in precisely those areas already recognised as severely disadvantaged.
Reasonable observers will ask what measures are being taken to support the trade and ensure that Pandoro continues to take the cargo offered to them in complete compliance with Government regulations.
Unfortunately, they will be asking in vain, if our own experience is anything to go by. Even seasoned observers of the minister directly concerned, Joe Walsh, will be perplexed to say the least by his wholly inexplicable optimism in the face of Pandoro's threat to withdraw the live export facilities (openly announced in court by their counsel).
During a Dáil adjournment debate on the threat last week, Minister Walsh expressed the opinion that the continued existence of a Pandoro ferry link to facilitate the live export trade was a purely commercial matter. And, moreover, a commercial matter for Pandoro alone to decide upon. The ICMSA begs to differ.
Pandoro, in the normal course of events, should be free to make their decisions on a commercial basis. But when their decision affects a multi-million euro export from this country, ICMSA feels the matter has moved way, way beyond the normal course of events. We cannot allow decisions about the nature of what this country exports to be made by any commercial concern in the business of conveying those exports to the market.
To reduce the matter to its simplest form, either the Irish decide what they export or Pandoro does. If Minister Walsh is still unsure as to who should have that final decision, I recommend that he consult some of his friends and neighbours around Clonakilty. I feel confident that he will be given a direct and unambiguous answer.
Speaking recently in Sofia, Dr Franz Fischler, the EU farm commissioner, seemed to share Minister Walsh's rosy view of the future for European farming. On the subject of the accession of the new members states, Dr Fischler said: "This will certainly mean greater competition between farmers for the hearts and minds of consumers. But then, we have to consider that accession will also bring an internal market of 450 million consumers without tariff restrictions, export quotas or trade barriers."
Minister Walsh should understand that looked at from Clonakilty or anywhere else in Ireland, an expanse of ocean looks very much like a trade barrier. If we have no route to the market, then the idea of a single economic entity becomes utterly meaningless.
The minister will be aware that rumours are circulating regarding the possible sale of Pandoro's service to their rivals, Stena. May we take it that Stena will facilitate Irish live exports? Or is the problem simply passed from Billy to Jack? Does the Competition Authority have a view on this rumoured sale?
If the minister is privy to the intentions of these giant conglomerates, could he share the news with Irish farmers who, as of now, have no idea how their animals are to be exported?
While he ponders that suggestion, may ICMSA make another? We strongly urge the Government to insist that all ferry companies operating out of Irish ports be obliged to take all cargo offered them. They must not be allowed cherry-pick what they will, or will not, carry where absolutely vital national economic interests are at stake.
If this obligation on the ferry companies requires legislation, so be it. The present situation leaves all Irish roll-on/roll-off exports to the tender mercies of foreign-based corporations. If is agricultural exports this time, who knows what it will be next?
Pat O'Rourke,
President,
ICMSA,
John Feely House,
Dublin Road,
Limerick.
