Michael Fitzmaurice demands clarity on blue tongue export rules
Michael Fitzmaurice pressed for clearer information on blue tongue and export restrictions, asking for up-to-date briefings on exports to Tunisia, Northern Ireland, Greece and other markets. He insisted the public be reassured about food safety and warned that the live cattle trade must be protected from disruption.
Calls for clear briefings
He urged the minister and the department to provide up-to-date briefings to public representatives about the status of exports to Tunisia, Northern Ireland, Greece and other countries. He said there was "a fair bit of over and back", noted that Scotland had been brought into discussions, and referred to reports from shippers and videos circulating about a 14-day issue.
Public reassurance on food safety
He told colleagues that people need to know "anything you eat is safe" and emphasised that blue tongue does not spread mouth to mouth like some diseases. He said clear, consistent messaging was essential to calm public concern and avoid misinformation.
Concern for the live cattle trade
He warned that if the live trade suffers, factories and the "dead trade" could try to take advantage, and that maintaining a strong live cattle trade is vital for the industry. He framed the matter as one of protecting market access and producers' livelihoods.
Requests to officials and representatives
He asked that department staff be clear with public reps so they can inform stakeholders, citing feedback of a "blame game" from Northern Ireland and shippers. He acknowledged prior meetings with Deputy Kinney and Deputy Lord Deloshoes and called for no vacuum in information to those affected.
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I welcome this debate. I think Minister has always learned a lot about blue tongue. First of all I think people need to know that anything you eat is safe and that it doesn't spread like some diseases mouth to mouth. I think that is very important for the public. I would ask you one thing, that the public reps are informed on where we are with Tunisia, where we are with Northern Ireland, where we are with the likes of Greece and some other countries that you will be familiar with where we are exporting to. Because we are getting a lot of feedback at the moment from Northern Ireland where we are hearing this blame game is going on. They are saying we are not responsible, that it is the Irish side. We are getting the same type of stuff from the shippers. I think that the department staff needs to be clear with us to know what is going on. There is one thing I would ask you and in fairness the brief just before and we appreciate that. But we need up to date briefings because there is a fair bit of over and back and Scotland is being brought into it now of what is going on with exports to Northern Ireland, exports to UK. We are fairly ok in some of the European countries and then in others it seems to be 14 days and you are well aware of videos that was going round by some shippers. And I think that all this needs to be out up front to us that we can give the message to other people. Because this is about the live cattle industry making sure. Because if you do not have a good live trade, the problem is the factories and the dead trade will basically try and take advantage. We do not want that to happen. So that is all I would ask you. I appreciate that there, you know, everyone who is in Deputy Kinney, Deputy Lord Deloshoes, we met you before and we appreciate that. But we need to know for those guys what is going on because there seems to be that bit of a sort of a vacuum for those people. So I would ask you that. Thank you. I would ask you that. Thank you.
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