The protest was part of an international campaign organised by UK-based CIWF in several countries this week.
It gave rise to a debate on RTÉ Radio 1's show Countrywide on Saturday morning. Campaigner Caroline Rowley said that regulations on animal welfare during long-distance transport have been breached "regularly" for many years, with cases of breaks and food or water supply requirements not being observed.
She added that CIWF was not against farming but opposed live exports, which in her view absorbs small amounts of cattle and makes money only for a "small number of exporting companies".
Rowley added that according to data she obtained through a freedom of information request, one or two animals die on every shipment to Turkey, with pneumonia a common cause.
IFA livestock chair Angus Woods disagreed, saying that he had been on ships and lorries transporting cattle to Europe or the Middle East and found them to be operating to "the highest of standards".
"It's important for farmers to have positive competition within the marketplace," he added, with live exporters contributing to demand for their animals.
"The purchaser of the animal on the far side, be it in the Netherlands or Turkey, only wants to buy a happy, healthy animal," he said.
In a statement to Countrywide, the Department of Agriculture said: " The standards provided for in Irish legislation in relation to the approval of ships for livestock transport are higher than those which apply in other EU member states and are recognised by the EU Commission as being among the most effective and stringent legislation in force as regards the transport of animals by sea."
Department vets inspect ships and supervise loading operations, the statement added.
The Department is currently funding the World Organisation for Animal Health to support "capacity-building activities relating to the welfare of animals at the time of slaughter in third countries and long-distance transport".
Read more
Live exports of calves exceed 100,000 head
UK calls for evidence for potential live export ban
In pictures: exporting calves from Ireland to the Netherlands
Turkish trade in focus
The protest was part of an international campaign organised by UK-based CIWF in several countries this week.
It gave rise to a debate on RTÉ Radio 1's show Countrywide on Saturday morning. Campaigner Caroline Rowley said that regulations on animal welfare during long-distance transport have been breached "regularly" for many years, with cases of breaks and food or water supply requirements not being observed.
She added that CIWF was not against farming but opposed live exports, which in her view absorbs small amounts of cattle and makes money only for a "small number of exporting companies".
Rowley added that according to data she obtained through a freedom of information request, one or two animals die on every shipment to Turkey, with pneumonia a common cause.
IFA livestock chair Angus Woods disagreed, saying that he had been on ships and lorries transporting cattle to Europe or the Middle East and found them to be operating to "the highest of standards".
"It's important for farmers to have positive competition within the marketplace," he added, with live exporters contributing to demand for their animals.
"The purchaser of the animal on the far side, be it in the Netherlands or Turkey, only wants to buy a happy, healthy animal," he said.
In a statement to Countrywide, the Department of Agriculture said: " The standards provided for in Irish legislation in relation to the approval of ships for livestock transport are higher than those which apply in other EU member states and are recognised by the EU Commission as being among the most effective and stringent legislation in force as regards the transport of animals by sea."
Department vets inspect ships and supervise loading operations, the statement added.
The Department is currently funding the World Organisation for Animal Health to support "capacity-building activities relating to the welfare of animals at the time of slaughter in third countries and long-distance transport".
Read more
Live exports of calves exceed 100,000 head
UK calls for evidence for potential live export ban
In pictures: exporting calves from Ireland to the Netherlands
Turkish trade in focus
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