Aontú leader and Meath West TD, Peadar Tóibín has contacted the office of the CEO of Brittiany Ferries and the office of the Minister for Transport calling for an immediate meeting between the two, to return future live exports from Rosslare Harbour. An Teachta Tóibín stated that Brittiany Ferries should not use an Irish port owned by Irish citizens and yet discriminate against a fully legal export trade being carried out by Irish citizens. He stated:
“Brittiany Ferries use Irish public ports that are owned by Irish citizens. Brittiany Ferries are banning the live export of Irish cattle. This is a legal trade that is fully regulated by the EU. Live exports have grown to 320,000 cattle a year. They are worth €480m a year. They represent 10% of the food export total. The sale of these cattle is crucial for the livelihoods of tens of thousands of farmers.
Operating a ferry service requires operational authorisation from the specific port authority. Rosslare Europort is owned by the CIÉ which is owned by the state. Brittiany Ferries operates in Rosslare by way of licence from a port owned by Irish citizens. They are now banning a legal trade by a section of Irish citizens. This is a problem. It’s a problem that the Minister for Transport needs to address. We are calling on the Minister for Transport to meet with Brittiany Ferries and tell them that they have an obligation to serve all Irish citizens without discrimination where trade is legal.
If the Minister does not to this, we are looking at another massive blow to a farming sector that is already in its needs.”
