The farm organisations have called on the Government to ensure that the closure of the P&O shipping route from Rosslare to Cherbourg in France does not stop the export of live cattle from Ireland to mainland Europe.
While the appointment of Ms Mary Coughlan as the new Minister for Agriculture and Food was prominent in the news yesterday, it was the possibility that the live trade, estimated to be worth €150 million, could be hit by the closure of the P&O route that caused great concern here.
The Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association, which first raised the issue, said the decision of P&O to exit the Rosslare service would totally disrupt live exports from Ireland to the Continent.
"This issue reverts, once again, to the Government and must be the first item on the new Minister's priorities," said Mr Pat O'Rourke, president of the ICMSA.
"I will be seeking an urgent meeting with the Minister as it is vital that there is no break in the supply of cattle and that markets so hard won are kept for Irish cattle exporters."
He said the importance of the live trade could not be overestimated with 200,000 head of cattle exported last year, which guaranteed there was competition for the cattle and meat sector in Ireland.
"It is important that a new operator for the Rosslare-France sea route is secured and that a freight operator takes all freight offered to it, including livestock," Mr O'Rourke added.
If this required legislation, the Government must move on it now and he found it difficult to believe this had not been anticipated.
He said a reliable and comprehensive sea-freight service from Ireland to the continent was a fundamental part of national infrastructure.
The chairman of the Irish Farmers Association's national livestock committee, Mr John Bryan, said it was essential that livestock farmers should continue to have ferry access to the EU single market for live animals.
He said the P&O decision to close or dispose of a number of their ferry routes, including Rosslare/Cherbourg, placed in danger a very important trade and outlet for Irish cattle. He estimated that live cattle exports were worth over €150 million annually, and involved the export of over 200,000 head of cattle to markets in Spain, Italy, the Netherlands and France.
Mr Bryan added that it was a highly regulated trade, with the highest standards of veterinary inspections and animal welfare.
He was aware that a number of companies were actively examining the purchase of the route and all of them had expressed a commitment to continuing the live trade.
He said it was the responsibility of the Minister for Agriculture and Food and the Government to guarantee ferry access to the EU single market.
Meanwhile, a fear that the Government might not deliver on its commitment to double the amount of development aid it gives to 0.7 per cent by 2007 was expressed by the director of Concern, Mr Tom Arnold, at the National Ploughing Championships yesterday.
Mr Arnold said if the Government was to meet that financial commitment, it would have to be indicated in the Government Estimates for 2005, which would be the crucial indicator of Government intentions.