The Department of Agriculture is to spend at least €60,000 arranging for the return and purchase of 274 Irish sheep which have been refused entry to France for the past 10 days after being shipped there on a boat from Belfast.
The sheep, which were originally purchased in the midlands by British livestock exporters, were taken to Belfast and shipped to the port of Le Trepot a fortnight ago on board a livestock vessel, the Khalfifah 1, which has been approved to carry livestock by both authorities on the island of Ireland.
On arrival, the sheep, which were travelling on Irish veterinary certification, were refused entry by the French authorities because of "discrepancies" in the veterinary certification.
The Department of Agriculture said it had responded immediately on discovering that there was a problem with the certification and had sent amended certification to France so that the animals could be offloaded for slaughter.
However, a Department official said yesterday, despite the correction of the discrepancies in the certification, which involved the sequence in which the numbers were recorded, the French had persisted in their refusal to allow the sheep into France.
The official said that the local veterinary authorities had also refused entry to the animals, but had confirmed that they were being fed and watered and were in good condition.
He said that the Department had expressed disappointment to the veterinary officials in Le Trepot at the lack of response to the provision of the new certification.
Last night, the Department said that it was arranging for the return of the sheep to Ireland and would be purchasing the animals.
"Our primary concern has been for the welfare of the animals," a spokesman said. "We have insisted that the French inspect the sheep to ensure they are satisfied with their welfare and then they will be shipped back here."
He said that negotiations with the shippers for the return of the sheep had been concluded yesterday evening.
The spokesman confirmed that the Department had agreed to buy the 274 sheep, which would be slaughtered here instead of in France, where they had been sent by British-based agents Ottley and Lomas.
He refused to give details of the cost to the Department, but livestock shipping sources estimated that the shipping costs could be as high as €30,000 and purchasing the 274 animals could cost in the region of another €30,000, although the Department would recoup most of this outlay.
The Compassion in World Farming organisation, which has been highlighting the plight of the sheep, said last night that it had attempted to gain access to the sheep in France but had been refused.
It expressed concern at the condition of the sheep, which have been on the vessel for 14 days, and called on the Minister for Agriculture to change existing policy and put a stop to the long-distance transport of live.
The organisation said that the live export of animals should be replaced by a trade in meat.