The details of the two consignments that were traded by private commercial businesses from Ireland to Israel over the past six months are given in the table below.
Ship
|
Consignor
|
Date
|
Port of Loading
|
Port of Destination
|
Type of Animal
|
No. of Animals
|
Ganado Express
|
Viastar
|
16/11/2023
|
Greenore
|
Haifa, Israel
|
Bulls
|
3,397
|
Ganado Express
|
Viastar
|
11/01/2024
|
Greenore
|
Haifa, Israel
|
Bulls
|
3,304
|
I can clarify that all cattle on these consignments were inspected prior to export by veterinary inspectors of my Department (as are all exported cattle) to ensure their fitness for transport and their high animal health status.
Trade in live animals is a necessary and integral part of the dairy and beef sectors and plays an important part in supporting farm incomes. Such trade can only be sustainable on the basis of a strong regulatory regime which protects the welfare and the quality of the animals transported.
While the trade in and transport of animals is a private commercial activity it is heavily regulated by European and Irish national law which my department enforces.
I want to be very clear in stating that my Department only permits animals to be transported in compliance with current legislation.