The Minister for Agriculture has been sharply criticised by a leading IFA activist on the lack of access for live cattle exports.
Mr Raymond O'Malley, the organisation's national livestock chairman, said: "Livestock farmers are incensed with the fact that Mr Walsh has taken no real action to deliver on his responsibility to provide full ferry access for live exports to Europe."
Addressing a meeting in Roscommon, Mr O'Malley said that the Minister would continue to ignore the problem at his peril, particularly in view of the extremely serious situation facing suckler and cattle farmers with weanlings and store cattle to sell. "This problem requires urgent action from the Minister in view of the severe weather problems right along the west coast from west Cork to Donegal."
Mr O'Malley said Pandoro was taking nine loads of livestock twice a week at the moment. The Minister should secure guarantees from the company that it would increase its capacity to the maximum and continue to carry livestock throughout the autumn and winter.
He said the Minister and his Department could treble the carrying capacity of the Irish Ferries' Normandy if they wished. There were ship operators and exporters who with minimal assistance from the Government could provide ferry access for a further 30 loads of livestock per week, he added.
Having undertaken a tour of western counties to assess the feed and fodder situation at first hand, Mr O'Malley said it was clear the Minister must introduce an urgent package of emergency measures to tackle the severe income and weather-related problems facing farmers in the autumn. The priority must be full market access for live exports to maintain competition and confidence in the cattle trade. There must also be an increase in premium and headage payments, he added.