Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 May 2026
170. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline the current position regarding restrictions affecting the export of Irish livestock to mainland Britain; and to provide a clear timeline for when these restrictions are expected to be reviewed, eased, or lifted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35395/26]
View answer171. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to clarify, given that livestock movements to Northern Ireland have resumed under specific protocols, the reason similar arrangements have not yet been fully established for exports to mainland Britain; and whether the Department is working to introduce equivalent pathway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35396/26]
View answer172. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to detail the precise animal health protocols currently required for the export of livestock to mainland Britain, including requirements relating to bluetongue vaccination and/or blood testing; and to confirm whether compliance with these measures will guarantee access to the market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35397/26]
View answer173. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the engagement that has taken place with UK authorities to agree practical, proportionate, and science-based measures that would facilitate the continued export of Irish livestock to mainland Britain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35398/26]
View answer174. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide an assessment of the expected duration of the current restrictions to the export of Irish livestock to mainland Britain, including whether they are considered temporary, seasonal, or likely to remain in place for a prolonged period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35399/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 170, 171, 172, 173 and 174 together.
Following the detection of bluetongue virus serotype 3 (BTV3) in Wexford earlier this year, the animal health certification conditions under which breeding and production cattle and sheep can move to other EU Member States, and Third Countries such as Great Britain, could no longer be met. BTV certification requirements for the Intra-EU trade of animals destined for immediate slaughter were allowed to continue even after the detection of BTV3 in Ireland.
Some EU Member States have chosen to apply derogations to these standard certification conditions, thereby allowing the inward movement of cattle and sheep from EU countries with BTV3, such as Ireland, subject to certain additional requirements decided by those Member States. The vast majority of our exports of cattle are to EU markets where no vaccination or pre-export testing is required under introduced derogations. On the 5th of March 2026, Ireland and Northern Ireland both announced derogations to re-establish national and Intra-EU trade in animals for breeding and production. Derogations only apply to movements between EU Member States and not to Third Country trade.
Certification requirements for the movement of livestock to Great Britain is determined unilaterally by the GB Competent Authorities. The veterinary health certificates for consignments of breeding, and slaughter cattle and sheep, to GB (Wales, Scotland, England) include the same requirement for BTV for countries not free of the disease for the last 24 months (e.g. Ireland): The animals must have been vaccinated with an inactivated vaccine, at least 60 days before the date of dispatch to Great Britain, against all bluetongue serotypes/s which are those officially reported anywhere in the whole territory as demonstrated through a surveillance programme during at least the preceding 24 months, and the animals are still within the immunity period of time guaranteed in the specifications of the vaccine at the time of export.
Vaccines used must hold valid authorisation for use in Ireland. There are currently three BTV-3 vaccines approved for use in Ireland: Syvazul BTV 3, Bluevac-3 and Bultavo-3. However, none of these BTV3 vaccines has of yet a determined duration on immunity. Therefore, we cannot comply with the certification requirements for consignments of breeding or slaughter animals to GB.
Ireland exported approximately 1,600 bovines to GB in 2025 compared to 2,400 in 2024 and 1,000 in 2023. My Department continues to engage with industry stakeholders and monitor developments in export requirements to ensure that Ireland remains competitive while maintaining the highest standards of animal health and welfare.
|
Export Destination |
2026* |
2025 |
2024 |
2023 |
2022 |
|
England |
9 |
737 |
1893 |
640 |
877 |
|
Scotland |
2 |
262 |
249 |
271 |
325 |
|
Wales |
2 |
679 |
269 |
178 |
47 |
|
GB Export Total |
13 |
1678 |
2411 |
1089 |
1249 |
*part of.
