Sir, - The reopening of the live cattle trade to Egypt will no doubt herald the resumption of trades to other non EU countries. While this may be welcomed by exporters and cattle farmers, it marks a very sad day for the animals concerned. Once again, thousands of Irish cattle will be loaded boats for a long and stressful sea journey, leaving the green fields of Ireland to be delivered to desert feedlots in the Middle East and North Africa.
These animals will meet their end in foreign slaughterhouses which do not have to comply with EU animal welfare laws, almost certainly having their throats cut and bleeding to death while fully conscious.
Many people may be unaware that this inhumane and outdated trade is supported by generous EU grants, paid out of money provided by taxpayers (that's you and me). For each head of cattle exported to a country outside the EU, the exporter receives a grant of about £250 - a lot of money when one considers that in 1995, for example, more than a quarter of a million live cattle were exported from Ireland to countries outside the EU, all supported by such grants, and costing taxpayers many millions of pounds. It is scandalous that taxpayers money should be used in this way.
Recently, representatives of Compassion in World Farming travelled to Brussels to meet with officials of the EU Commission. We put forward our view that grants on live cattle should be withdrawn, and suggested that this money could instead be added to existing grants on beef exports to nonEU countries. In this way, the trade in meat would be encouraged, jobs would be kept in Ireland, and - most importantly - the animal welfare problems in a trade which is outdated and unnecessary would be eliminated. - Yours, etc.,
Director,
Compassion in
World Farming, Ireland, Grand Parade,
Cork.