Compassion in World Farming, which picketed the Department of Agriculture yesterday, has pledged to continue highlighting animal welfare issues. Ms Mary Anne Bartlett, the Irish director of CIWF, said she was angry that the Minister, Mr Walsh, had not met her about a secretly-shot video of Irish cattle being maltreated in Beirut.
The video shows an Irish bull awaiting slaughter in Lebanon. It was unable to get up and was left in filthy conditions without veterinary care.
It also featured a second Irish bull arriving at a slaughterhouse in Beirut. One of its front legs was tied to the side of a truck from which it was unloaded without a ramp, its leg still tied high above its body. It was slaughtered in this position.
The Department had conceded that the animals came from Ireland and requested more information from the CIWF, which Ms Bartlett said had been supplied.
A Department spokesman said yesterday that it was seeking more information to investigate the matter.
Ms Bartlett said she thought the Minister was avoiding the issue. Despite repeated requests, she had never met him or his predecessor, Mr Ivan Yates.
"We want to know what he plans to do or what he can do even if he gets all the information we have. It looks as if he can do nothing about the welfare of Irish animals after they leave the country and that is why we want the trade stopped," she said.
She added that a video which had been taped in Ireland, showing conditions which CIWF considered cruel, had been presented to the Department earlier this year.
"We met with some officials but as far as we know, no action has been taken against the owners of the animals involved," she said.
"If the Minister is not prepared to take action at home on matters relating to animal welfare, for which he is responsible, what can he do in Lebanon?" she asked.
She said the protests against live shipping and the Minister's failure to meet CIWF will continue and intensify.