The Irish Farmers' Association president, Mr John Donnelly, claimed last night that the resumption of the live shipping trade to the continent could be worth up to £60 million annually.
He was speaking as it was announced that the trade, which was badly disrupted by the actions of the animal welfare lobby, is set to resume using a Dundalk shipping company and a vessel called the mv Purbeck.
It was announced yesterday that the service, which will be aided by a Department of Agriculture grant of £1 million, will sail three times each week between Cork and Cherbourg.
This will guarantee unhindered access to mainland Europe, denied when the British-based Pandoro shipping line refused to carry Irish stock to the continent because of pressure from the animal welfare lobby.
There had been only limited space on the Irish Ferries ships, which do not operate on a year-round basis. This effectively prevented Irish suppliers from servicing the mainland European markets.
Mr Donnelly said last night this problem had now been rectified with the provision of the new service. He was confident that Ireland could win back a major market share for livestock exports to France, Italy and Spain.
He stressed that the new service would operate with the highest welfare standards and he expected to see the sale of upwards of 30,000 head of young cattle and 100,000 sheep during the next year.
Young Irish cattle, or weanlings, have been in strong demand on the continent because they can be purchased at cheaper rates here than on the European mainland.
The EU's so-called Herod Scheme, which this year saw the slaughter of millions of calves under 20 days to reduce beef stocks, has meant a shortage of young animals on the continent.
Last week the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Walsh, sought permission from the EU to grant-aid the service, which is contrary to EU rules. However, it has been pointed out to Brussels that the inability of Irish exporters to get their animals to the continent through no fault of their own is also in breach of Single Market regulations.
The industry had threatened to take its case to the European courts if something was not done to help the Irish have full and free access to the markets.
Earlier last week the Department of Agriculture inspected and passed for service the mv Purbeck, which was berthed at Portsmouth. The vessel was found to be suitable for the roll-on, roll-off trade.
Walsh Warehousing, another Irish shipping company seeking to operate a non-subsidised service to the continent with the Caroline, a purpose-built livestock vessel, said yesterday it accepted that the ship did not comply with Irish livestock transportation regulations as they now stood.
Walsh Warehousing is seeking a trial shipment on the vessel to show that it can carry livestock safely.
The renewal of the live trade has already led to condemnation from the Compassion In World Farming organisation in Ireland, which has been at the forefront of the protests against the live trade.
CIWF, which brought about a situation where few live animals are being carried on ferries out of Britain, is to step up its protest against the resumption of the trade from the Republic.