Athlone public meeting this weekend on live export sector ‘crisis’
Independent Ireland is to host a public meeting in Athlone tomorrow (Saturday) evening to discuss what it described as “the growing crisis facing Ireland’s livestock export sector”.
It comes after a recent decision by Brittany Ferries to announces it plans to cease live animal exports from Rosslare to France.
The decision to call a public meeting followed discussions between MEP Ciaran Mullooly, Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice and the Chief Executive of Brittany Ferries, Christophe Mathieu, during which the shipping chief explained that the activities of a small group of 25 protestors at Portsmouth Port had contributed to the decision being taken by the company.
The protests at Portsmouth, from which the company does not provide live animal export transport, is impacting on its overall business and contributed to the decision to cease the Rosslare to France export service.
The public meeting is to take place in the Athlone Springs on Saturday, August 15, at 7.30pm.
Independent Ireland agriculture spokesperson, Roscommon Galway TD Michael Fitzmaurice, slammed the disruption caused by a small number of animal rights protesters.
Deputy Fitzmaurice and MEP Ciaran Mullooly were told by the Brittany Ferries Chief Executive that protests involving approximately 20 to 25 people at Portsmouth had been a principal factor in the company’s decision to withdraw from the Irish livestock export trade.
Portsmouth International Port is the UK’s hub for sea passenger traffic, and although the animal export trade is a tiny fraction of the overall business, protests can result in the closure of all operations due to health and safety concerns. This can result in delays for passengers, and extra costs on operators.
Fitzmaurice said the revelation that such a small number of protesters could effectively disrupt a vital export route was deeply concerning and raised serious questions about the protection of Ireland’s livestock trade and the rule of law.
“We were told that protests involving approximately 20 to 25 animal rights activists at Portsmouth had caused major disruption and were a principal reason behind Brittany Ferries’ decision to withdraw from carrying Irish livestock,” Fitzmaurice said.
“Twenty-five protesters cannot be allowed to bring a vital Irish export trade to its knees. Our farmers depend on reliable access to European markets, and we cannot allow a small group of activists to effectively dictate whether Irish livestock can reach those markets.”
Mr Mullooly said that Mathieu said that Brittany Ferries had tried everything to control the situation including contacting the local police authorities in Portsmouth, the port authorities and the Irish embassy in Paris, yet nobody had offered any help to them to deal with the situation.
He said the situation was very difficult and that the protesters were disrupting the activities for all other passengers.
Deputy Fitzmaurice said the Brittany Ferries CEO indicated that Irish livestock exports represented only a small proportion of the company’s overall business, but the disruption surrounding the trade had become unacceptable.
“Because of the disruption caused by a very small number of protesters, a route that is absolutely vital to Irish farmers is now at risk."
MEP Ciaran Mullooly raised concerns about claims made by groups regarding the European Commission’s position on Irish livestock transport.
He said groups involved in these protests had been claiming that they had the backing of the European Commission and that the Commission was supportive of their position regarding Ireland’s livestock transport arrangements.
“I made it very clear that I had not been aware of any such position from the European Commission and that, to my knowledge, Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi had never made such a statement to me.
Deputy Fitzmaurice said the Irish Government now needs to engage directly with the British Government, Brittany Ferries and the European Commission to find a solution.
He said the Brittany Ferries CEO indicated that the company would be prepared to review the position if there was a significant change in circumstances and that he would participate in discussions between the relevant governments and the European Commission.
"In fairness to Brittany Ferries they are prepared to sit down to try to find a solution to this but engagement needs to come from the relevant authorities," said the TD.